New York Post uses University of Louisiana :-)

[Ragin4U]

China is the biggest polluter in the world with hundreds of new yet dirty coal plants. I'm sure they're doing politically correct things and showcasing them.

Not sure how many new plants are being built but "Coal use fell 3.7% in 2015, following 2.9% drop in 2014, as China tries to wean itself off fuel that causes local air pollution problems and global warming" according to The Guardian.

[Ragin4U]

I have kept this civil...and never called you a "small mind". I guess I was wrong for being polite. Evidently, you are no different than all the others like you who are more than willing to preach and tell others what THEY should do. Well...instead of TELLING me, I am asking you and all the other "large minds" to SHOW me. Stop using oil in all its forms...then I will follow and do the same.

OK

[Ragin4U]

Back then many assumed the source of the Bishops refute was the Bible.

Unfortunately at the time the masses were not allowed to read the Bible for themselves and as time unfolded it seems those Bishops weren't either.

Yep. Power comes from an ignorant populace. For the leaders to stay ignorant or to feign ignorance or to force ignorance upon the people is criminal.

[Turbine]

Yep. Power comes from an ignorant populace. For the leaders to stay ignorant or to feign ignorance or to force ignorance upon the people is criminal.

It's still not clear what they were protecting beyond a previous stance, because nothing in Galileo's telescope contradicted the Bible.

[CajunJack55]

It's still not clear what they were protecting beyond a previous stance, because nothing in Galileo's telescope contradicted the Bible.

From most articles that i have read, the Pope was actually a friend and supporter of Galileo. He was even somewhat of a celebrity in Rome. Galileo's theories (that the sun was the center of the universe, not the earth) was actually pretty accepted by most priests, however he could not prove this without a doubt do to the lack of technology and he wanted to teach his theory as absolute truth. Because of this, Galileo began attacking the Pope and church (verbally) and that's when the church went after him. He was sentenced for "academic disobedience" and not heresy.

[Ragin4U]

It's still not clear what they were protecting beyond a previous stance, because nothing in Galileo's telescope contradicted the Bible.

Except the idea that because God created us and we are obviously special, the Earth MUST be the center of the universe. A literal interpretation would lead one to believe that. Scripture about the the "unmoving" nature of the world was taught as science as there was no difference to the Catholic Church. Except for the Jesuits.

[Ragin4U]

From most articles that i have read, the Pope was actually a friend and supporter of Galileo. He was even somewhat of a celebrity in Rome. Galileo's theories (that the sun was the center of the universe, not the earth) was actually pretty accepted by most priests, however he could not prove this without a doubt do to the lack of technology and he wanted to teach his theory as absolute truth. Because of this, Galileo began attacking the Pope and church (verbally) and that's when the church went after him. He was sentenced for "academic disobedience" and not heresy.

http://web.archive.org/web/200709300...html#conreport
Check Decree of the Index (5 March 1616) for "heresies"

Check under Sentence (22 June 1633) for the why

[CajunJack55]

Except the idea that because God created us and we are obviously special, the Earth MUST be the center of the universe. A literal interpretation would lead one to believe that. Scripture about the the "unmoving" nature of the world was taught as science as there was no difference to the Catholic Church. Except for the Jesuits.

Not disagreeing with in regard to what was taught as science/theology, but Galileo was certainly not the first to suggest this theory, it was Copernicus many years before and their were many more in between. The difference was Galalio wanted to teach it as an absolute truth, even though most scientist at the time did not accept it as that. They did not have the technology to prove it. So Galileo then started taking shots at the church. That is when he got himself into trouble.

[CajunJack55]

Except the idea that because God created us and we are obviously special, the Earth MUST be the center of the universe. A literal interpretation would lead one to believe that. Scripture about the the "unmoving" nature of the world was taught as science as there was no difference to the Catholic Church. Except for the Jesuits.

Agree, but I think most clergy at the time accepted that the Sun was the center, however, they did not want the common people to believe this for obvious reasons. The scientific revolution certainly threatened power of the church and they knew this.

[Turbine]

Except the idea that because God created us and we are obviously special, the Earth MUST be the center of the universe. A literal interpretation would lead one to believe that. Scripture about the the "unmoving" nature of the world was taught as science as there was no difference to the Catholic Church. Except for the Jesuits.

Part of the problem was their thoughts were Aristotle based, not Scripturally based.

[Ragin4U]

Agree, but I think most clergy at the time accepted that the Sun was the center, however, they did not want the common people to believe this for obvious reasons. The scientific revolution certainly threatened power of the church and they knew this.

You are absolutely correct about the "obvious reasons". You are also correct about Copernicus and the majority of people who believed in a Copernican system that it led to a change in the calendar! If you are interested in pre- and Renaissance astronomy, check out the biographies of Brahe and Kepler. Kepler's work on solving the mystery of Mars' retrograde motion was huge and , coincidentally, Mars begins retrograde next week. Nerd alert!

[Ragin4U]

Part of the problem was their thoughts were Aristotle based, not Scripturally based.

Correct about Aristotle but there are Scriptures that speak of the "unmoving Earth" and the Earth remaining still. Psalms maybe
I do like the fact that the Church formally apologized to Galileo 400 years after his death!