Geocentrism

[Dominus Fidelis]

Ok, so I'm reading through this apologist's web site, he is making good sense about theological issues and about the usual Protestant - Catholic arguments, etc.

Then I run across this part of his site where he is actually arguing for Geocentrism! He even offers $1000 to anyone proving him wrong. (Note how Mel Gibson's father took the challenge)

Shocking, huh?

http://www.catholicintl.com

 

[seebs]

I've run into a very small number of geocentrists. I think a lot of it has to do with the whole Galileo/Church conflict. It's an issue I find fascinating, because I suspect it had a lot to do with shaping the Church's current position on the boundaries between faith and science.

Actually, come to think of it... The other geocentrists I've met have been fundamentalist Protestants, not Catholics. It's pretty interesting, I guess.

Unfortunately, you generally can't "prove" such a thing. Physics doesn't give us any meaningful absolute frame of reference, so for all physics is concerned, we are the center of the universe; it's just that the math is a lot easier if you talk about us orbiting the sun.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Yes, he goes on to mention how the Church being "wrong" about this has led to much dissent and the current timidness of speaking out against evolutioin, etc.

Interesting, seeing as how the guy seems quite reasonable and intelligent on the other writings on his site.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

This other apologist is seeking to correct his brother...

http://www.catholicoutlook.com/geo.html

 

[Bastoune]

I know exactly the guy and article! Oh well... in either way the Church is not "wrong" about this because the Church is not concerned about science -- only faith and salvation. The Church stated that heliocentrism or geocentrism have no bearing on salvation and our relationship to God, so if one or the other is proven, fine.

 

[geocajun]

Ok, so I'm reading through this apologist's web site, he is making good sense about theological issues and about the usual Protestant - Catholic arguments, etc.

Then I run across this part of his site where he is actually arguing for Geocentrism! He even offers $1000 to anyone proving him wrong. (Note how Mel Gibson's father took the challenge)

Shocking, huh?

http://www.catholicintl.com

Be careful when reading Robert Sungenis. He is a smart guy, and has written some highly respected books such as "Not by Faith Alone" and "Not by Bread Alone" but alot of his more current writings stink of dissention.
He is no fan of Vatican II either...

His geocentric challenge is funny, because his cornerstone argument is that we do not know how gravity works, and he is right. No one is going to be able to disprove him because of that. Science really knows very little about gravity.

 

[KC Catholic]

NYJ says he's a schismatic. Watch his stuff caredfully!

 

[seebs]

I know exactly the guy and article! Oh well... in either way the Church is not "wrong" about this because the Church is not concerned about science -- only faith and salvation. The Church stated that heliocentrism or geocentrism have no bearing on salvation and our relationship to God, so if one or the other is proven, fine.

The church states this now; it didn't always.

 

[Michelina]

His geocentric challenge is funny, because his cornerstone argument is that we do not know how gravity works, and he is right. No one is going to be able to disprove him because of that. Science really knows very little about gravity.

We're not all gonna center ourselves on you, geo.
You are NOT the center of the universe!

 

[Michelina]

The church states this now; it didn't always.

Friend seebs,

I have remarked in the past, when somebody said something like the above, that there are no magisterial teachings on the subject. If you have something in mind, please let me know, by pm or here.

We all know you are a man of good faith but evidently you have some misimpression.

 

[geocajun]

We're not all gonna center ourselves on you, geo.
You are NOT the center of the universe!

you saw right through my plan!

 

[RhetorTheo]

I would liken it to a person giving testimony on the stand, being questioned about what happened on the night of the murder.

You say, "It doesn't matter whether he was driving his car down I-25 or if he was in his house at 8:20 on the night of the murder; what matters is whether he committed the murder that night, and he told the truth about that when he proclaimed his innocence." But the peripheral lies are what exposes the central lie, and if he's not credible on the things you can prove then he's not credible on the ultimate issue.

The accuracy of the Bible does matter, outside of faith and morals. If it's all just stories, then the moral teachings have no force.