4.17.2017
Aristotle's View off the Universe - Catholicism Embraces Aristotle
In medieval "Christian" Europe, some of Aristotle's teachings attained the status 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 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.
Some early theologians clung to Aristotle's geocentric view of the universe because they read too much into certain Bible passages, such as 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: What Does the Bible Say About Easter?
From the jw.org publications
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