The Truth about the Gallileo affair - by an Atheist

[Charlemagne_III]

So to answer your question, I am hoping we will not have to go through the same cycle of authoritarian socialist government with its own amended morality code. I trust there are enough intelligent people to assess where such a movement ends up taking us all. In that respect we have the advantage of historical hindsight not available to the Russians, Ethiopians, Yugoslavs, Cambodians, Yemeni, Romanians, etc etc of past tmes.

Hello ABUCS,

Hope springs eternal, as they say. But great empires have come and gone. I think it possible that America may be no exception. The Swedes were close enough to the Russians in time and territory to see where atheistic socialism leads. They don’t seem to have learned the lesson. The Swedes, from what I understand, are the most atheistic and socialist country in Europe.

There is one major political party in America that seems hellbent on dragging us into self destructive atheistic socialism. The other major political party seems helpless or only half willing to stop the slow inexorable drag. We shall see.

Too many people love security and license more than freedom and responsibility.

 

[abucs]

Yes, we shall see Charlemagne.

Nixbits, thank you for adding to my knowledge.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_More

 

[inocente]

Nice attempt at a recovery, but it just doesn’t wash. All one has to do is read my posts and have to boot a little knowledge of history. But to rectify one of your comments, the article by Cardinal Poupard was the one you referred to. But your source omitted it. I gave you the link. Apparently you refuse to acknowledge it because of your preconceived notions.

I cited the report of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case, instituted by JPII, not the book review you posted.

As you don’t appear to have read the report of the Pontifical Commission, I will post the full text.

You have still given no evidence for your allegation of “lies that you still find repeated in high school and university texts”.

Aside from the fact that no intelligent and well read person can view you exaggerations, hyperboly, and insults as arguments or refutations, I am curious about the source for your implied accusation here: " Shall we mention being burned at the stake simply for owning a bible in English? "

You have still given no evidence for your allegation of “lies that you still find repeated in high school and university texts”.

I know you will provide us with reliable documation as to who, when, where, by whom or by whose authority was such a thing done, if indeed it did happen.

As I said, I will not encourage you in sectarianism, but one of them is Richard Bayfield, imprisoned, tortured, then burnt at the stake by Thomas More.

I cited the official Church inquiry rather than some third-rate blogger.

The report of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case follows. Would it be too much to expect you to make a substantive point from it?

 

[inocente]

31 OCTOBER 1992
His Eminence Cardinal Paul Poupard, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Addressed the Holy Father in the Name of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case, Giving a Summary of the Conclusions Reached

Most Holy Father,

Nearly thirteen years have now passed since you received the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in this same Sala Regia, for the first centenary of the birth of Albert Einstein, and again directed the attention of the world of culture and of science to another scholar, Galileo Galilei.

1. You expressed the hope that interdisciplinary research would be undertaken to explore the difficult relations of Galileo with the Church. You also established, on 3 July 1981, a Pontifical Commission for the study of the Ptolemaic-Copernican controversy of the 16th and 17th centuries, to which the Galileo case belongs and you had entrusted to Cardinal Garrone responsibility for coordinating the research. You have asked me to give an account of their results.
   That Commission was made up of four working groups, with the following chairmen: Cardinal Carlo M. Martini for the exegetical section; myself for the cultural section; Prof. Carlos Chagas and Fr. George V. Coyne for the scientific and epistemological section; Msgr. Michele Maccarrone for historical and juridical questions; Fr. Enrico di Rovasenda served as secretary.

Calm and objective reflection undertaken
The aim of these groups was to reply to the expectations of the world of science and culture regarding the Galileo question, to rethink this whole question, with complete fidelity to established historical facts and in conformity with the teachings and the culture of the times, and to recognise honestly, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, the right and the wrongs, regardless of their source. It was not a question of conducting a
retrial but of undertaking a calm and objective reflection, taking into account the historical and cultural context. The investigation was broad, exhaustive and carried out in all the areas involved. And the series of studies, theses and publications of the Commission have also stimulated numerous studies in various spheres.

1. The Commission addressed three questions: What happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen? The answers to these three questions, answers based upon a critical investigation of the texts, throw light on a number of important points.
   The critical edition of the documents, and in particular of items from the Vatican Secret Archives, enables one to consult easily and with all the desirable guarantees the complete record of the two trials and especially the detailed account of the interrogations to which Galileo was subjected. 3 The publication of Cardinal Bellarmine’s declaration to Galileo, together with that of other documents, clarifies the intellectual horizon of that key person of the whole affair. The editing and publication of a series of studies have cast light on the cultural, philosophical and theological context of the 17th century. They have also led to a clearer understanding of the positions taken by Galileo with respect to the decrees of the Council of Trent 6 and to the exegetical orientations of his time, and this has made possible a careful appraisal of the immense literature dedicated to Galileo, from the Enlightenment down to our own day.

Cardinal Bellarmine asked the two real questions
Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, in a letter of 12 April 1615 to the Carmelite Foscarini, had already stated the two real questions raised by Copernicus’ system: is Copernican astronomy true, in the sense that it is supported by real and verifiable proofs, or does it rest only on conjectures or probabilities? Are the Copernican theses compatible with the statements of Sacred Scripture? According to Robert Bellarmine, as long as there was no proof that the earth orbited round the sun, it was necessary to interpret with great circumspection the biblical passages declaring the earth to be immobile. If the orbiting of the earth were ever demonstrated to be certain, then theologians, according to him, would have to review their interpretations of the biblical passages apparently opposed to the new Copernican theories, so as to avoid asserting the error of opinions which had been proved to be true: ‘I say that if it were really demonstrated that the sun is at the centre of the world and the earth is in the third heaven, and that it is not the sun which revolves round the earth, but the earth round the sun, then it would be necessary to proceed with great circumspection in the explanation of Scriptural texts which seem contrary to this assertion and to say that we do not understand them, rather than to say that what is demonstrated is false’.

 

[inocente]

1. In fact, Galileo had not succeeded in proving irrefutably the double motion of the earth – its annual orbit round the sun and its daily rotation on the polar axis – when he was convinced that he had found proof of it in the ocean tides, the true origin of which only Newton would later demonstrate. Galileo proposed tentative proof in the existence of the trade winds, but at that time no one had the knowledge necessary for drawing therefrom the necessary clarifications.
   More than 150 years still had to pass before the optical and mechanical proofs for the motion of the earth were discovered. For their part, Galileo’s adversaries, neither before nor after him, have discovered anything which could constitute a convincing refutation of Copernican astronomy. The facts were unavoidably clear, and they soon showed the relative character of the sentence passed in 1633. This sentence was not irreformable. In 1741, in the face of the optical proof of the fact that the earth revolves round the sun, Benedict XIV had the Holy Office grant an imprimatur to the first edition of the Complete Works of Galileo.

All involved in trial had good faith
4. This implicit reform of the 1633 sentence became explicit in the decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Index which removed from the 1757 edition of the Catalogue of Forbidden Books works favouring the heliocentric theory. Despite this decree, however, there were many who remained hesitant about admitting the new interpretation. In 1820, Canon Settele, Professor at the University of Rome La Sapienza, was preparing to publish his Elements of Optics and Astronomy. He came up against the refusal of Father Anfossi, Master of the Sacred Palace, to grant the imprimatur. This incident gave the impression that the 1633 sentence had indeed remained unreformed because it was unreformable. The unjustly censured author lodged an appeal with Pope Pius VII, from whom in 1822 he received a favourable decision. A decisive fact was this: Father Olivieri, former Master General of the Order of Preachers and Commissary of the Holy Office, drew up a report favouring the granting of the imprimatur to works presenting Copernican astronomy as a thesis, and no longer as a mere hypothesis. This papal decision was to receive its practical application in 1846, with the publication of a new and updated Index.

1. In conclusion, a rereading of the archival documents shows once more that all those involved in the trial, without exception, have a right to the benefit of good faith, in the absence of extra-procedural documents showing the contrary. The philosophical and theological qualifications wrongly granted to the then new theories about the centrality of the sun and the movement of the earth were the result of a transitional situation in the field of astronomical knowledge, and of an exegetical confusion regarding cosmology. Certain theologians, Galileo’s contemporaries, being heirs of a unitary concept of the world universally accepted until the dawn of the 17th century, failed to grasp the profound, non-literal meaning of the Scriptures when they describe the physical structure of the created universe. This led them unduly to transpose a question of factual observation into the realm of faith.

*It is in that historical and cultural framework, far removed from our own times, that Galileo’s judges, incapable of dissociating faith from an age-old cosmology, believed, quite wrongly, that the adoption of the Copernican revolution, in fact not yet definitively proven, was such as to undermine Catholic tradition, and that it was their duty to forbid its being taught. This subjective error of judgement, so clear to us today, led them to a disciplinary measure from which Galileo ‘had much to suffer’. These mistakes must be frankly recognised, as you, Holy Father, have requested. These are the results of the interdisciplinary enquiry which you asked the Commission to undertake. All its members, through myself, thank you for the honour and trust which you have shown to them in leaving them the fullest latitude to explore, research and publish, in the complete freedom which scientific studies demand. *

May Your Holiness deign to accept the Commission’s fervent and filial homage.

ISBN 88-7761-076-X
© Copyright 2003
THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
VATICAN CITY

 

[inocente]

breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/10/24/Atheist-Group-To-Distribute-Pamphlets-in-Public-Schools-Depicting-Cartoon-Bible-Sexually-Assaulting-Woman

What has that to do with the OP allegation of “lies [about the Gallileo affair] that you still find repeated in high school and university texts”?

 

[inocente]

Hello Innocente,

is there any support on the web for the claim that people were being burnt at the stake for owning a version of the Bible. or any other religious text for that matter? If it is true, I would like to read about it.

Thanks.

See post #23. You can use a search engine on the name to find articles, as I said, let’s be Christian and forgive a past of which we took no part.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

What has that to do with the OP allegation of “lies [about the Gallileo affair] that you still find repeated in high school and university texts”?

I don’t know that it has all that much to do with the Galileo affair. But as to the extent of atheist propaganda reaching into the public school systems, I think it was revealing. If you look at some of the titles made available to the children, you might reasonably infer that atheists are going to put themselves on the side of the angels (science, most likely) and theists on the side of the devils. However, not having the propaganda available to me, I can only offer that as a guess, rather than as a fact. I’d sure like to see some of the material being handed out to confirm my suspicions. I expect some of the childrens’ parents would like to inspect it as well. It may well not be possible to stop the spread of this propaganda, but it would be a very good idea to know about it and thereby be able to combat it, for example with Christian apologetics pamphlets distributed on the table right next to the atheist literature.

Psalms 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Their deeds are loathsome and corrupt;
not one does what is good.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

See post #23. You can use a search engine on the name to find articles, as I said, let’s be Christian and forgive a past of which we took no part.

But then in post #23 you said this:

**"Unlike you, I don’t make stuff up. Unlike you, I cited the official Church inquiry rather than some third-rate blogger. Unlike you, I respond to points made rather than just playing the fool to the audience.

The report of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case follows. Would it be too much to expect you to make a substantive point from it, or will you just carry on ranting?"**

So how Christian was that?

 

[Nixbits]

Charlemagne III:

you might reasonably infer that atheists are going to put themselves on the side of the angels (science, most likely) and theists on the side of the devils

It’s quite absurd to imagine that atheists think that they are putting themselves on the side of beings they don’t believe in. You characterise atheists as trying to undermine and destroy the Church with propaganda. My experience of atheists is that they try to present the truth that they see from the evidence available. But I don’t live in the USA and I have no knowldge about what information is presented in US schools.
Charlemagne III:

However, not having the propaganda available to me, I can only offer that as a guess, rather than as a fact. I’d sure like to see some of the material being handed out to confirm my suspicions.

Charlemagne, you admit that you don’t have more than suspicions, but you seem very ready to condemn it. What evidence do you have that misinformation is being distributed to US schoolchildren?

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Charlemagne, you admit that you don’t have more than suspicions, but you seem very ready to condemn it. What evidence do you have that misinformation is being distributed to US schoolchildren?

Too big an answer to be offered in this forum. You have to be an American to know it.

I was a teacher for 33 years, so I do believe I know whereof I speak.

Many Americans have nothing but contempt for what is taught today in our public schools.

Garbage for the intellect. Open wide, swallow, and shut up is often the modus operandi.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

‘Galileo and the Vatican’ debunks black legend about scientist and the Church

"Galileo and the Vatican” is the title of a new book that gathers together the documents of the commission created by Pope John Paul II on the famous Italian scientist and, according to Cardinal Paul Poupard who headed up the study group, seeks to debunk the black legend and other myths about this case.

In statements to Notimex, Cardinal Poupard recalled that John Paul II publicly apologized about Galileo in October of 1992.

“The Pope was concerned about clearing up a bad image of the Church in the eyes of the public, in which she was portrayed as the enemy of science. This is a myth, but myths pervade history and are not easily eliminated,” he said.

“All of this was used, especially beginning with the Enlightenment, as a weapon of war against the Church,” the cardinal added, and today it is bizarre that ideas “without any foundation” continue to be spread around, such as the legend that Galileo was burned at the stake when he was never even imprisoned.

Cardinal Poupard recalled that at the time John Paul II asked him if after acknowledging the errors of the judges, the Galileo case would be closed. He answered, “As long as there are free persons they will think however they

catholicnewsagency.com/news/galileo_and_the_vatican_debunks_black_legend_about_scientist_and_the_church/

You will note that here Cardinal Poupard talks about the myths, " Black Legends, " legends " to which the Church has been subjected to for @ 500 years . Now I wonder who spread these " legends, " essentially making a mountain out of a mole hill? Of course I suppose you will now accuse the Cardinal and the Pope of exaggeration and hyperbole. And yes, these legends are in the text books all over the world .

Linus2nd.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

There is plenty of information available on the web relating to well-documented instances of people being burnt for ‘heresy’. For example, there were six cases during the chancellorship of Saint Thomas More. The heresy associated with these cases was primarily the ownership of books banned by More, such as books by Luther, Zwingli, Tyndale, Frith and Joy. In 1530 Thomas More had made illegal the ownership of any bible in English, French or Dutch.

Richard Bayfield, a Benedictine monk and book pedlar, John Tewkesbury, a leather-seller, James Bainham, a Middle Temple lawyer, Sir Thomas Hitton, and Thomas Bilney were just some of those burned to death. It’s a very long time ago, of course, but we shouldn’t forget that these were real people who suffered and died for their faith.

Saint Thomas More was directly involved in three out of the six cases of heresy which resulted in burnings during his chancellorship in 1531 and 1532 and he actively denounced two of the others: I went to Saint Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School. Needless to say, More’s role in the deaths of these people was not mentioned during my Catholic education.

In what way was Moore involved. It is not the office of the Chancellor to order punishments. You are implying that Moore was directly responsible for these crimes. This is a serious accusation boardering on slander, the slander of a Saints’ good name. Prove Moore’s culpability or apologize.

Linus2nd

 

[Linusthe2nd]

I cited the report of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case, instituted by JPII, not the book review you posted.

As you don’t appear to have read the report of the Pontifical Commission, I will post the full text.

Thank you on both accounts.

You have still given no evidence for your allegation of “lies that you still find repeated in high school and university texts”. I think you have none and are blustering to cover your retreat.

It is common knowledge in Catholic circles.

As I said, I will not encourage you in sectarianism, but one of them is Richard Bayfield, imprisoned, tortured, then burnt at the stake by Thomas More.

For that kind of accusation you need to provide documation of Moore’s culpability. I wouldn’t think it was the job of the Chancellor of the crown to send men to death. You will of course provide documantation.

Unlike you, I don’t make stuff up. Unlike you, I cited the official Church inquiry rather than some third-rate blogger. Unlike you, I respond to points made rather than just playing the fool to the audience.

False accusations again. And as hominems as well.

You have not provided documentation that the Inquisition burned a man alive for having a Bible in English - who, when, where, who was responsible, etc.

The report of the Pontifical Commission on the Galileo Case follows. Would it be too much to expect you to make a substantive point from it, or will you just carry on ranting?

The only comments I would make is that it agrees with what Tim O’neill said in the O.P. and, generally, with what William A Wallace said in hiw books on Gallileo. I think the apology was unnecessary and over done.

Linus2nd

 

[abucs]

Regarding Galileo and public schools.

I am an Australian teacher. We did follow our own state curriculum and recently this was changed to following an Australia wide curriculum.

There is a huge gap in the curriculum regarding even the Christian contributions to culture let alone as the main foundation of Australian culture.

In the notes to teachers handbook it does briefly touch on the Galileo affair with teachers encouraged to present this as religion interfering in science.

The notes only lightly give recognition to Christianity in one instance which was to do with the formation of the calendar but then quickly adds a negative in wondering how long such a calendar will last before being replaced.

The present prime minister is trying to reverse the removal of Christian history and values and is coming up against some resistance. I support him n trying to tackle what I see as an entrenched (small) militant secular education group who use education to further their own political and cultural views.

abc.net.au/news/2014-10-13/the-conversation-expert-verdict-on-the-curriculum-review/5809706

smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/education-review-overhaul-of-bloated-national-curriculum-widely-supported-20141012-114zkz.html

salon.com/2014/06/08/tony_abbott_spends_millions_to_push_god_in_schools_partner/

smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/tony-abbott-talks-values-at-a-school-that-describes-homosexuality-as-an-abomination-20130829-2ss70.html

theglobalmail.org/feature/is-abbott-sending-holy-smoke-signals/690/

dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/tony-abbott-launches-education-policy-at-penrith-christian-school/story-fngr8i5s-1226706735479

adelaidenow.com.au/news/all-kids-must-read-the-bible-federal-opposition-leader-tony-abbott-says/story-e6freo8c-1225812010013?nk=e1460c681fcbe9ab93081109d3d9b173

The worst anti-Christian agenda I have encountered was at the Theology department of The Australian Catholic University. It seems if you wanted to trash the history of the Church, then as an educator that is where you would go. So many Catholics have been taught an anti-Christian agenda without realising it. Instead, following a tenet of Jesus many look at acknowledging and apologising wrongs as a spiritual strength and moral virtue. Unfortunately when alleged wrongs are actually deliberate deceit taught as an agenda, then such a virtue is misplaced.

I have confidence that in time the truth will win out.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

The myth about the Church allegedly persecuting Galileo for believing the earth orbited the sun goes hand in hand with the allegation the church taught the earth was flat.

Most of these false accusations seem to date back to the mid 18th and 19th centuries, as part of a perceived culture clash between religion and science, with the added incentive of trying to ridicule the Catholic Church.

The following link might be of interest.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth_of_the_Flat_Earth

I’ve lifted one paragraph from the link, mainly because it makes reference to CS Lewis, and I’m a CS Lewis fan.

20th and century and onward[edit]

Since the early 20th century, a number of books and articles have documented the flat earth error as one of a number of widespread misconceptions in popular views of the Middle Ages. Both E.M.W. Tillyard’s book The Elizabethan World Picture and C.S. Lewis’ The Discarded Image are devoted to a broad survey of how the universe was viewed in Renaissance and medieval times, and both extensively discuss how the educated classes knew the world was round. Lewis draws attention to the fact that in Dante’s The Divine Comedy about an epic voyage through hell, purgatory, and heaven, the earth is spherical with gravity being towards the center of the earth. As the devil is frozen in a block of ice in the center of the earth, Dante and Virgil climb down the devil’s torso, but up from the devil’s waist to his feet, as his waist is at the center of the earth.

Jeffrey Burton Russell rebutted the prevalence of belief in the flat earth in a monograph[29] and papers.[30][31] Louise Bishop (2008) states that virtually every thinker and writer of the 1000-year medieval period affirmed the spherical shape of the earth.[32]

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Regarding Galileo and public schools.

I am an Australian teacher. We did follow our own state curriculum and recently this was changed to following an Australia wide curriculum.

There is a huge gap in the curriculum regarding even the Christian contributions to culture let alone as the main foundation of Australian culture.

In the notes to teachers handbook it does briefly touch on the Galileo affair with teachers encouraged to present this as religion interfering in science.

The notes only lightly give recognition to Christianity in one instance which was to do with the formation of the calendar but then quickly adds a negative in wondering how long such a calendar will last before being replaced.

The present prime minister is trying to reverse the removal of Christian history and values and is coming up against some resistance. I support him n trying to tackle what I see as an entrenched (small) militant secular education group who use education to further their own political and cultural views.
…

…
The worst anti-Christian agenda I have encountered was at the Theology department of The Australian Catholic University. It seems if you wanted to trash the history of the Church, then as an educator that is where you would go. So many Catholics have been taught an anti-Christian agenda without realising it. Instead, following a tenet of Jesus many look at acknowledging and apologising wrongs as a spiritual strength and moral virtue. Unfortunately when alleged wrongs are actually deliberate deceit taught as an agenda, then such a virtue is misplaced.

I have confidence that in time the truth will win out.

There’s long been a strong humanist agenda in federal politics and the “elite” establishment.

For example (from Wikipedia)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Australian_Humanist_Societies

Recent winners of the Australian Humanist of the Year include Gareth Evans (1990), Robyn Williams (1993), William Hayden (1996), Philip Nitschke (1998), Peter Singer (2004), Tim Flannery (2005) and Peter Cundall (2006), Lyn Alison (2010), Dr Leslie Cannold (2011), Ronnie Williams (2012), Jane Caro (2013), and Geoffrey Robertson QC (2014).

Gareth Evans was one time foreign minister for Australia.

Robyn Williams is a science populariser.

William Hayden was a long time stalwart of the ALP and federal politician.

Philip Nitschke is a prominent proponent of euthanasia.

Peter Singer is the Australian exemplar of utilitarianism, in which a chook has more value than a disabled child.

Tim Flannery is a prominent scientist.

Peter Cundall hosted a national gardening show on the ABC for years. Frankly in his case, I think I remember him talking about the cruelty he experienced in a Catholic school. At the age of 12, he and his mates stood outside the school on their last day, and shouted “That’s it with God!”. Something like that.

Lyn Alison was an Australia senator very much in favour of abortion, and a strong advocate of environmentalism.

I’ll skip a couple, but Geoffrey Robertson QC is a long time barrister and human rights activitist. He used to host a TV show called “Hypothetical”.

They’re in high places and they have a lot of influence.

I’m surprised though that the ACU would be highly critical of Church history in it’s own department of Theology. As a Protestant convert, I have concerns regarding “Papal Infallibility” and the Contraceptive Pill, but I’m hardly critical of all Church history.

 

[DrTaffy]

In what way was Moore involved. It is not the office of the Chancellor to order punishments.

Seriously? What exactly do you think role of Chancellor at the time was?

Any decent biography of Thomas More, even a rabidly pro-Catholic one, would surely confirm this for you. He freely admitted imprisoning ‘heretics’ in his own house, and was indisputably accused of torturing ‘heretics’ - and the actual executions are, of course, a matter of public record.

 

[DrTaffy]

Needless to say, if you had attended public school, you would never have heard of More’s courage in standing up to the heresy of Henry VIII.

Utterly false, as I know from personal experience.

Henry had More’s head chopped off because he would not recognize Henry as supreme head of the Church of England.

A) he was executed for treason - he was opposing his king, not just espousing any random religious view. Those he tortured and killed were just espousing a religious view he disagreed with, not trying to undermine the State
B) he was at least given the relatively merciful death by beheading, a mercy he denied his victims.

 

[abucs]

Thanks Bob. The list makes interesting reading.

I attended a book launch by Jane Caro and she spoke very strenuously about using government to get rid of the Catholic/private school system so that everyone will be forced to use the secular public school system. Her book and talk from memory was praising the public education system and complaining that people were needlessly leaving it. She has appeared quite frequently in ABC leftist love-ins where she is a bit more measured but essentially expresses the same ideas a little more politely. I am aware of key educators like her who see their job as removing any sort of Christian influence in education.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Caro

allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=305&book=9781743315712

Regarding what we both would see as myths against Christianity and the Church. I think a lot of the impetus against Christian education came from the Thesis of John Draper and then Andrew White. This includes the flat earth charge that you still hear peddled out as well as the Galileo affair. I asked earlier when the charge against the Church regarding Galileo started, and as far as I can see it started with these men. Most of what they wrote has been judged inaccurate by modern historians but it still lives on inside the school education system and media.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_thesis

vserver1.cscs.lsa.umich.edu/~crshalizi/White/

radicalmoderate.hubpages.com/hub/A-Conflict-Realized-Nineteenth-Century-Scholarship-and-The-Galileo-Affair

As mentioned above, gradually one by one the untruths are unravelling but it will take a long time. We were unlucky in that this type of biased thinking became prevalent in our universities just before mass attendance at these universities by the public which was itself just before the excitement of mass media so we got the double hit of propaganda against the church that many take for granted as truths that ‘everyone knows’.