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Entry: The Galileo Myth Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_galileo_myth#15673 Post contents: Cognate, "Religion, especially when it is coupled to the coercive power of the state, has always been opposed to science." This statement is factually incorrect. There seems to be something in some stricter forms of Christianity that makes them very conductive to scientific thinking. Aside from the late medieval Catholicism discussed by Spencer, there is abundant evidence about the connection between ascetic Christiany and science from 17th century England. Read, for example, the work done on the origins of the Royal Society. About two thirds of the founders of that eminently scientific organization were Puritans. A case-study of the connection is Newton, who wrote far more on theology than he did on science. Newton also illustrates an intriguing difference: he developed ideas that by any standard were blatantly heretical -- at least for a while Newton thought the Holy Trinity was a misinterpretation of the Bible. Instead of attacking Newton, however, contemporaries (including high leaders in the Church of England) hushed up this part of his thinking, and Newton could continue to hold his high positions and develop his scientific and theological ideas. Sent at: 2008 12 02