Aristotle/Catholicism Embraces Aristotle

In medieval "Christian Europe, some of Aristotle's teachings attained the standards of received truth-that is, they were generally accepted as being correct. Roman Catholic theologians-most notably Thomas Aquinas (c. 1224-1274-incorporated Aristotle's writings into their theology.  Thus, Aristotle's notion that a stationary earth lies at the center of the universe became Catholic dogma.  The teaching was also adopted by Protestant  leaders, such as Calvin and Luther, who said it was Biblical.

"In some areas of thought [Aristotle's  teachings} and Catholicism became virtually indistinguishable," said a writer Charles Freeman. Thus, it has been said that Aquinas "baptized" Aristotle into the Catholic faith. In reality, however, "Aquinas was converted to Aristotelianism," wrote Freeman. And to some extent, we might add, so was the church. As a result, Italian astronomer and mathematician Galileo, who dared to present observational proof that the earth orbited the sun, was required to appear before the inquisition and was forced to recant. Ironically Aristotle recognized that scientific knowledge is progressive, subject to revision. If only churches had adopted the same view! 

QUICK FACTS

* Aristotle had a passion for knowledge and "a deep reverence for the value and excellence of the universe about him." -Aristotle-A Very Short Introduction.

* Nature, he believed, has an eternal "Prime Mover" that causes eternal  movement and that is good and exists outside the universe. 

* Aristotle is credited with founding two sciences-biology and logic.

* Aristotle tutored a Macedonian boy who later became the empire builder Alexander the Great. 

The Read Too Much Into the Bible

Some early theologians clung to Aristotle's geocenter view of the universe because they read too much into certain Bible passages,  such as Psalm 104:5.  It states:  "[God] established the earth on its foundations; it will not be moved from its place forever."  The Bible writer was not describing earth's place in the cosmos. Rather, using poetic language, he was pointing to the planet's permanence according to God's purpose. -Ecclesiastes 1:4. 

That said, when the Bible touches on scientific matters, its statements are accurate.   For example, Job 26:7, recorded about 3,500 years ago, says that God "[suspended] the earth upon nothing."  Job 38:33. states that celestial bodies are governed by physical laws. 

Next time: The Way, the Truth, the Life/Life of Jesus

From the Awake! magazine