Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 8.djvu/412

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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.

truth of the doctrine of Kopernik was established by the telescope of Galileo.[1]

Herein was fulfilled one of the most touching of prophecies. Years before, the enemies of Kopernik had said to him, "If your doctrines were true, Venus would show phases like the moon." Kopernik answered: "You are right. I know not what to say; but God is good, and will in time find an answer to this objection."[2] The God-given answer came when the rude telescope of Galileo showed the phases of Venus.

On this new champion, Galileo, the attack was tremendous. The supporters of what was called "sound learning" declared his discoveries deceptions, and his announcements blasphemy. Semi-scientific professors, endeavoring to curry favor with the Church, attacked him with sham science; earnest preachers attacked him with perverted Scripture![3]

The principal weapons in the combat are worth examining. They are very easily examined. You may pick them up on any of the battle-fields of science; but on that field they were used with more effect than on almost any other. These weapons are two epithets: "Infidel" and "Atheist."

The battle-fields of science are thickly strewn with these. They have been used against almost every man who has ever done anything new for his fellow-men. The list of those who have been denounced as infidel and atheist includes almost all great men of science—general scholars, inventors, philanthropists. The deepest Christian life, the most noble Christian character have not availed to shield combatants. Christians like Isaac Newton and Pascal and John Locke and John Milton, and even Howard and Fénelon, have had these weapons hurled against them. Of all proofs of the existence of a God, those of Descartes have been wrought most thoroughly into the minds of modern men; and yet the Protestant theologians of Holland sought to bring him to torture and to death by the charge of atheism.[4]


    Whewell be right, the "Spaccio" would never have been written, but for Bruno's indignation at ecclesiastical oppression. See Tiraboschi, vol. xi., p. 435.

  1. Delambre, "Histoire de l'Astronomie moderne," discours préliminaire, p. xiv. Also Laplace, "Système du Monde," vol. i., p. 326, and, for more careful statement, "Kepleri Opera Omnia," edit. Frisch, torn, ii., p, 464.
  2. Cantu, "Histoire Universelle," vol. xv., p 473.
  3. A very curious example of this sham science is seen in the argument, frequently used at the time, that, if the earth really moved, a stone falling from a height would fall back of the point immediately below its point of starting. This is used by Fromundus with great effect. It appears never to have occurred to him to test the matter by dropping a stone from the topmast of a ship. But the most beautiful thing of all is that Benzenburg has experimentally demonstrated just such an aberration in falling bodies as is mathematically required by the diurnal motion of the earth. See Jevons, "Principles of Science," vol. i, p. 453, and ii., pp. 310, 311.
  4. For curious exemplification of the way in which these weapons have been hurled, see lists of persons charged with "infidelity" and "atheism," in "Le Dictionnaire des Athées." Paris, An. viii. Also Lecky, "History of Rationalism," vol. ii., p. 50.