Christianity and The Mathematical Sciences

   I found a pretty broad article concerning the debate I've mentioned previously over Heliocentrism in the early years of Physics (although relatively recent for Christianity). Actually the intro to the article grabbed my attention the most because it explained the reason for the close growth of these Mathematical sciences and Christianity had a lot to do with the analytic analyses tradition applied to the bible. It also name drops both Galileo and Copernicus and how they felt their work, despite being seen as nearly heresy at the time, was instead a work of faith for them. One guy (who  i will most likely write on in depth), one Johannes Kepler, even has a pretty good quote about "Geometry" (read: math) being the mind of god.

Can be found here: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/HistTopics/Heliocentric.html

The Science of Structure, Form, and Relationships

   I found this article discussing the relationships between Math and Chrisitianity. I found it rather interesting because the parallels of some of the religious truths to axioms, and the philosophy that being a mathematician and a christian it is hi job to believe in what is true, not necessarily what he has believed. There is not necessarily a philosophy of mathematics laid forward here, but the interplay of truth as a mathematical concept and a religious concept is heavily delved into and i found it fascinating.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~craigenr/PWP/mathchrist.html

Galileo Figaro Magnifico

   All the wrath that Copernicus managed to avoid from the church, Galileo Galilei managed to get full bore.

Galileo Galilei, Astrophysicist, Devout Catholic,  and Awesome Beard Owner. Shown here presumably staring down the inquisition. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

   Galileo was born February 15, 1564, 21 years after the death of Copernicus, in Pisa, and he is perhaps the seminal example of the church clashing with a physicist and mathematician. Galileo was the son of musician, and received much of his formative education in a monastery in Vallombrosa (part of Florence), and subsequently at the University of Pisa. he was taught the traditional catholic supported ideas of motion and celestial bodies, which he upheld for a while. However, because of a few financial difficulties he was forced to take a minor teaching position at the University of Pisa, where he published his Du Motu, a work on the mechanics of motion and falling (the famous examples being a dropped object retains its original velocity, and objects of differing mass fall at the same rate). This would be his first departure from the classic Aristotelian views.  

   It wasn't long before his discoveries came into conflict with his Aristotle and Catholic Church tinted views. He immediately jumped ship to Copernicus's viewpoint, declaring the earth goes around the sun, not the other way around. This was still a contentious issue for the Catholic Church. 

   In his desire to vindicate himself and push the boundaries of the science of that day he learned of the primitive magnifying glass objects that existed in Europe, and created the first modern telescope. In another audacious move, he turned it towards the heavens, and began to study whatever he could see (which was far more than any other European of the time thought possible). He studied the moon, sunspots, phases of Venus  and even managed to discover four satellites of Jupiter, a leap in discovery that would have done the likes of Einstein and Bohr proud. in 1613 he wrote a student of hi saying in essence that the bible was flawed on the Aristotle's view of the universe, because it was an earthly document and his scientific observations and body of evidence for Copernicus's view was more accurate. 

   By 1616 the letter had gone public, the Inquisition had jumped, and declared the Copernican view heresy, and instructed Galileo to keep silent on his views and quit teaching them. Galileo managed to do so for seven years, partly to make his life easier, mostly because at heart he was still catholic. 1623 saw a friend of Galileo's be elected Pope Urban VIII, who encouraged Galileo to continue research and teaching astronomy, so long as he did not advocate the Copernican view of heliocentrism. Galileo (rolling his eyes, I can only assume) proceeded to do his best to stay within the contradictory guidelines set forth for him, published a "neutral" document, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, in 1632. He put forth the arguments governing the debate of Copernicanism, making Aristotle's view seem idiotic. 

   The church, and in particular the Inquisition was none too pleased.

   Galileo was summoned to Rome before the Inquisition (a Church body tasked with seeking out and punishing heresy, for those who don't know), where they proceeded to threaten him with all the thunderbolts and lightning and very, very frightening they could summon up. The hearings lasted nearly a year before the threat of torture made Galileo admit that he support a heliocentric view. The year was 1633, and he was convicted of heresy and sentenced to house arrest, where he died blind and ill in 1642. He continued to publish his views, works, and theories until the day he died. 

   The church however couldn't se to withstand the sort of scientific onslaught brought on by Galileo. 1758 saw a lift on the ban of heliocentric scientific works, and 1835 saw the removal of all opposition to heliocentrism. by 1992, the pope expressed regret on how Galileo was treated.

Taken From:
1. http://www.biography.com/people/galileo-9305220
2.http://galileo.rice.edu/bio/tov.html

"A Supreme Cause"

   Physics and mathematics deal with the fundamental nature of how the universe works, on a logical (although upper level math tends to stretch that term) and physical (duh) level. The run-ins with religion, and especially Christianity are entirely inevitable. The adaptation process between Belief and Theory, Faith and Fact is an interesting interplay between the two. Interestingly enough i found a transcript from, 1985, with the pope mentioning specific branches of physics (in particular high-energy and atomic physics, two very math heavy branches of physics) enhancing the faith. It can be found here:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~nmcenter/sci-cp/sci85071.html

Perhaps the Christian tradition would do well for particle physics in return? Jesus has had so many different representations, but i rather like nuclear physicist Jesus. 

De Revolutionibus

Nicolaus Copernicus, Mathematician, Astrophysicist, Canon.
(c) Wikimedia Commons

   People today are often forced to draw a line between faith and science. Where does one end and the other begin? Are the two exclusive? The history of physics and mathematics would suggest almost the opposite, that the functional development of the physical sciences and organized faith required each other. No where is this more apparent than in the life of one Nicolaus Copernicus.

   Copernicus began his life as a the son of a wealthy merchant in Poland  where his connections to the upper class allowed him to attend the prestigious Krakow University where he got his introduction to both astronomy, physics, and mathematics, and began to take an interest in the heavens, both in a cosmological and spiritual sense. After graduating his uncle landed him a Canon's position which he would proceed to hold for the rest of his life. He managed to day to day fulfill his ecclesiastical duties but keep studying his beloved subject of astronomy. It was during this time spent as a Catholic Canon that Copernicus would come up with an idea that would turn the 16th century on it's head. Copernicus proposed that perhaps it was not the earth that was the center of the universe and the solar system as everyone to this point had assumed, but instead the sun. This however did not sit right with the Roman Catholic Church. They already officially supported what was known as the Ptolemaic system of the solar system which held that the earth was the center of the universe. Such a view went very well with a special and divine humanity created in god's image.

   And to tolerate such a view from one of their own Canons could have been nearly too much.

   Copernicus wasn't cowed by the potential obstacles he would face from the higher authorities of Catholicism however, and he set about proving his claims true. Using the time and studying that being a church administrator had afforded to him, Copernicus began using a small makeshift observatory to begin staring at the stars at night. The result was first a paper of 40 pages or so "Commentariolus" (which rather ironically means small commentary) that established his claims and passed among his colleagues. After more work, and substantial mathematical proof, was De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium ("On the Revolutions of the Celestial Orbs").

   It was even dedicated to Pope Paul III

   Initially it caused little controversy, everybody dismissed or laughed it away, but as the astronomers began to be swayed by the compelling arguments, in what must have been the premier example of mathematical-physics of its time, De Revolutionibus found itself smack in the middle of another revolution. Protestants had just appeared on the scene and had provided some of the earliest push back against Copernicus's ideas calling little more than mathematical guess work, and stating that pondering the cosmos was the realm of philosophers. Protestants ironically would also be the first to convert to the new ideas, given the emphasis on bearing some of the hierarchical views of Catholicism and bringing some of new freedom of thought to the church, heliocentric was easier to believe, especially for the educated. Catholics, of which Copernicus had counted himself (remember that whole "canon to the day he died" thing?) were much more staunchly against it. Catholics were already somewhat upset to be losing hold on the beliefs of Europe given Martin Luther's recent revolution, to lose their place in the universe would understandably be upsetting. The Catholic educated would continue to argue out against this idea (even the mathematically inclined) well past his death into the 17th century when Galileo would prove once and for all just where we stood, and just where we orbited.

   Sounds classic on the surface doesn't it? A revolutionary idea with mixed negative reception from the church? How was this good for physics and math, and the church?

   Copernicus never could have studied and looked skyward were it not for the education he had received from being of the clergy. Had he not spent his life dedicated to the church, who can say if he would have had the motivation to contemplate the heavens he could see? Were it not the time that being a church administrator afforded him, who could say if he could have ever written his small papers on big revolutions? And really who can argue that the church today would be any healthier, any more "sacred" if we still believed that the earth sat still and the sun wound its way around us? It should also be noted and remembered that then, Geocentrism versus Copernicus's Heliocentrism was as much a moral issue as are/were many other scientific issues, if the church could be taught to rationalize their faith with the world around them and roll with the punches while still being faithful, who's to say it couldn't happen again?

Sources:

1. "Nicolaus Copernicus Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2013.

2. Helden, Al Van. "The Galileo Project | Science | Copernican System." The Galileo Project | Science | Copernican System. Rice University, 1995. Web. 22 Jan. 2013.