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However, in his article “The Pursuit of Science in a Christian Context: Modeling Dialogue Rather Than Warfare“, Randy Isaac cautions us about simplifying events like the Galileo affair down to the fact that science and religion are perpetual adversaries:
“In Galileo’s case, for example, he and his principal Vatican opponent,
Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, agreed that the Bible should not be
reinterpreted without absolute proof of the earth’s motion. Galileo
thought he had such proof, but his arguments, based on the phases of
Venus and the cause of the tides, were logically flawed and he pushed
them beyond their real force. In the process, he personally insulted
his longtime friend, Pope Urban VIII, who retaliated by summoning
Galileo to Rome to face charges of heresy. In short, there was plenty of blame to go around. It was not simply a matter of ‘science’ versus ‘religion.'”
Isaac’s article is available in its entirety from The Trinity Forum’s website. Also, be sure to check out our other featured readings at BioLogos.org for more reflections on the relationship between science and religion.