Quote:
Originally posted by DeSoya:
Actually the Greeks calculated the circumfrence of the earth with about a ten percent degree of accuracy. So they knew that the earth was round well before "Biblical" times. There is some evidence that the aztecs and the sumerians may have had a notion that earth was round.
The real problem here the that the institution of the church decided to ignore most of the wisdom of the ancient greeks, relying only on what fit the doctrine of the time.
quote:
"The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the moon and I have more faith in the Shadow than in the Church."
Ferdinand Magellan
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I think Magellan's unintended point is a good one. The blind faith that we sometimes put in institutions (Science, The Church, The Government, etc.) can often lead us astray. There are those who have faith in God like Yorick and Cerek [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] and those who have faith in ourselves or in what we percive to be facts [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] . Like Magellan we see the divine in the world at large instead of seeing it in a building or a cultural edifice. If too much faith is put into these institutions then you could easily make a case for science being a religion or even government being a religion.
Lady Blue: While Galileo didn't prove the earth was round his publication was what got the theory widely accepted.... You were almost right. And that's pretty darn good. Even in science. 
DeSoya[/QUOTE]DeSoya, if you believe the Bible, as I do, it's timeline extends back to the begining of creation. If you don't, but do believe in science, then we are talking around the period the dead sea scrolls are believed to have been written(the oldest verifiable), which still makes it an exceptionally old text.
My point being that nowhere in the Bible are any statements made that the earth is flat, or that the solar system/universe revolves around the earth.
The 'earth is flat' people ignored not only science but the very doctrine they claimed to defend. A common fault of humans, not only in all religions but in all codes/creeds/morals/ethics/societies etc...
Hypocrasy, Lying and Self Interest extend to all walks of life.
How many politicians or scientists have stated contradictory beliefs due to payolla? (sp?)
How many times have we compromised our own beliefs for personal gain? Or even to protect others?
I agree with you in that too many people exercise blind faith, in religion, politics, science, relationships etc...