bede.org.uk — The myth that Christians in the Middle Ages thought the world was flat was given a massive boost by Andrew Dickson White's weighty tome The Warfare of Science with Theology. This book has become something of a running joke among historians of science and it is dutifully mentioned as a prime example of misinformation
Nov 29, 2006 View in Crawl 4
masamunecyrusNov 30, 2006
Actually, anyone who interprets the Bible literally is a dolt. I dislike how so many Christians are so quick to go from straight, literal meaning to symbolism and hidden meanings. The Bible isn't a history book (though it has been written throughout the ages so it's a great reference for some select parts of history, though not many), though many people seem to think it is.
fxmcleodNov 30, 2006
@nazurakiHell yes it is. The only problem... i dont think that's a joke.
jerbakerNov 30, 2006
@ProximaC: "faith in science" as you say is not the same as faith in God no matter how badly you wish it was. Science is a process, not a set of beliefs. To have faith that a particular method of investigating the world will yield good answers is NOT the same as having faith that supernatural beings create worlds and creatures at their own whims. Stop trying to bring science down to the level of religion. They aren't equal and never will be.
proximacNov 30, 2006
@jerkbakerI am only equating them in blindness that occurs when a belief becomes zealous. As for me "badly wishing" they are the same, I do not. I am agnostic and very non-religious. But NOBODY has ALL the answers... not religion, not science.
haberman13Dec 1, 2006
I would say MOST christians don't feel evenly remotely like how you describe. I am a Christian and completely accept that the earth is millions/billions of years old, light traveling from stars hundreds of thousands of miles away just reaching earth wasn't just created mid-flight! Evolution as we now conceive of the concept I believe is a part of the perfection of creation, without adaptation how could a system be considered perfect? Adaptation is a flexibility exhibited by concepted to change with the surroundings ... the world would be very boring without ANY change. I accept science for what it is, our best method of testing and verifying a theory. To settle on any one thing as being TRUE without leaving room to modify your viewpoint is foolish. In fact this is the very thing Jesus spoke against, the entrenched religiosity of the time were so blinded to the true meaning of the old testament that they were incapable of accepting the revelation of that knowledge when Jesus spoke of it.Again, MOST Christians are not representative of what you see in the media or by the flaming maniacs who post on some forums around the net giving the rest of us a bad name.
hiscityDec 1, 2006
About 2000 years ago (an engineering estimate), St. Paul advised his protégé Timothy as follows..."O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee." (1st Timothy 6:20-21) True science and false science were recognized "in Biblical times." (Of course that was well before the dark ages....)As was the futility of arguing with fools, (Proverbs 26:4-5). Biblically speaking we could go back even further.... (~2600 years ago)."Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." (Old Testament, Daniel 1:4)Biblically speaking, science has it's proper place, as does wisdom, and knowledge, but without love, none of it makes any difference. -:-:-:-For any True Christian... don't buy into the divisiveness that's thrown at you. Jesus sent letters through John in the Revelation to a bunch of churches with problems -- about what they were each doing right and what they were each doing wrong. His work is to perfect the church. Of course, we're not perfect. That means there's no reason for me to give up on any person or congregation (of whatever Christian denomination). I already know that most of them are doing some things right and some things wrong. The anti-christians are going to try to drive a wedge in among the brethren. I like the Proverb..."Six things, the Lord hates, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, feet that run swift to mischief, a heart that devises wicked imaginings, a false witness speaking lies, and he that sows discord among brethren."So, those that try to split us up are doing something that is hateful and disgusting to Christ. He will deal with them in due time -- and in a way that we'll see is loving, even though they are enemies. Of course, He's also correcting us. It's best to "speak the truth in love" to those that are His children (*). If His corrections have never left you awe struck, then just consider His corrections toward Israel and Judah. (For the rest of this, see the latter chapters of the Book of Hebrews) Suffice it to say, don't get caught doing the same thing the anti-christians do.(* - Christian by faith in Christ contrasted with secular or cultural christians)
douglsmithDec 1, 2006
Did anyone actually read the article?I see lots of name calling here but nearly nothing about the substance of the article. The author simply claims that it was understood that the earth was spherical well before the time of Columbus. In addition, he claims that the whole idea of a battle between science and the church related to the Columbus voyage has was manufactured by Washington Irving.The article is well-reasearched and the sources of information are document and linked where possible. So how about an intelligent argument of the facts presented?
zeibenDec 1, 2006
"So what you're saying is that God couldn't even muster the power to get a book published which was understandable by the very people he created? That seems strange doesn't it?"I don't think God was interested in publishing. I suspect he wanted everyone to be able to ponder the universe and work collectively to improve the world. He gave us the freedom to think with an open mind, interpret our experiences and discover things for ourselves, or to just make snarky comments on digg. I like to think of holy texts, like the bible, as the wikipedia of the divine, which means they have both their share of brilliance as well as their share of blogspam and rev wars
deadboy42069Dec 18, 2006
LoL Christians in the Middle Ages thought the world was flat??Yea true but Christian is not the only religious thought the world is flat.Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Mormon, etc, many people back in time who never seen their own planet from outer space or fly around in a plane think the world is flat, not just Christian. Did you know that India think the world is on by Elephant's back? Also Did you know Japanese think they're riding on dragon's back and the clouds passed by they think its a smoke from a dragon and the air that blew people down and their land was messed up by strong wind "tycoon" they think dragon was blowing them away. Back in time, these people don't know anything like we do now, and you think Christian did all this stuff? yea right .. what about the rest of the religious thought the world is flat or riding on elephant or dragon's back? I don't know how Christopher Columbus found out the World is round. he prolly look at the moon, it's round, look at the sun, it's round also. maybe the Earth is round, but no 1 believe him, but he's right, but Christopher Columbus is Christian and he knew the world is round. What about the King Louis IX and Jewish and the people in Euro-Asia, They think the world is flat , too!! But they're aren't Christian. They're just a people who think the same as other people who thought the world is flat cuz it's look like it. Right now, You're standing outside. the world look flat but when'you're in a plane or rocket. the world is round. Egyptian thought the world is flat but they build a f**king pyramid cuz they look up in the sky seeing where the stars at so pyramid can point at the star. they don't use a globe. they use a map.. *made out of paper * it's flat, they don't know the world is round, they still think the world is flat.You know the funniest part is? American think the moon was made out of cheese back in 19 and early 20Th century..strange, isn't it?
weeeezzllFeb 6, 2008
... *blink* ...
ishwarriorOct 2, 2008
You know, Warmonger48, that maps do have four corners...