Program Information

In 1632 the Church condemned Galileo Galilei for his belief that the earth revolved around the sun. His condemnation was not lifted until late in the twentieth century.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: In 1632 the Church condemned Galileo Galilei for his belief that the earth revolved around the sun. His condemnation was not lifted until late in the twentieth century.

Intro: A Moment In Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: Galileo, the Italian mathematician and astronomer, believed along with Polish scholar Copernicus that the earth revolved around the sun. The Church disagreed. It held the old Ptolemaic teaching that the Earth was the center of the universe, and in 1616 told Galileo to cease and desist his teachings on the subject.

In 1624 a new pope was elected, a long-time friend and protector of Galileo. The scientist thought that perhaps a personal appeal would bring him some relief. He felt that it was dangerous for the Church to champion a position so vulnerable to scientific disproof. If people found themselves convinced by proof of something that was made a sin to believe, they might reject the Church's teachings in other areas.

At first his friend the pope told him he could discuss both theories as long as he was noncommittal. To this end, Galileo returned to his teaching in Florence and over the next several years produced his greatest work, "A Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems." It was printed with the full authority and commission of the Church and was well received except within the Church itself. A firestorm of criticism from churchmen greeted his new book. They correctly pointed out that despite his seeming lack of bias, his book was an unashamed plea for Copernicus' ideas. The pope, thinking he had been misled, ordered a trial and in February, 1633, Galileo was forced to recant. Legend has it that soon after denying his belief that the Earth moved around the sun, he muttered under his breath, "It does move." So convinced were the authorities of the danger of his views that not until the last decade of the twentieth century did the Church officially withdraw its condemnation.

The producer of A Moment in Time is Steve Clark. At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

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