What's the name of this scientist?

Question

Years ago when people thought the Earth was the centre of the universe and this guy said that was wrong. He said we moved around the sun. Then they killed him for saying he was against God or something like that. What was his name?

Answer 1

Well, the funny thing is, that even the bible mentions the sun being the center of the universe.

The whole idea that until everyone thought the earth was flat until a few centuries ago is a myth.

It was known (and mentioned) in texts going back a couple thousand years ago, the idea of the earth rotating around the sun.

The "THEY" you mention, is specifically the Catholic Church, who at that time, had a very large government that they controlled.

Yes, they used religion to persecute people, but they were ABLE to, because they were a government, not because they were a religion.

And all governments have their 'religion' which they use to exploit and control their subjects.

The newest religious belief of a government is Global Warming, which is being used in EXACTLY the same way what you're describing is.

Old timers:

"If you don't believe the right way, you have sinned against GOD and GOD will devastate all of us for our sins against GOD."

Present timers:

"If you don't believe the right way, you have sinned against MOTHER EARTH and MOTHER EARTH will devastate all of us for our sins against MOTHER EARTH."

See what I mean?

Same thing exactly. Religious dogma.

And scientists who disagree with the Global Warming theology are being proclaimed heretics, and are having their grants pulled, being fired, and brow-beaten into submission for their beliefs.

Same thing, kids.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Gal...

Answer 3

The person you're thinking about is Galileo Galilei.

He was not killed for saying he was against God.  The Catholic Church said that his statement that the Earth revolved around the sun was sacrilige and against church teachings (according to the church the Earth does not move).  So he was tried and threatened with torture and death unless he recanted his theories, which he grudgingly did.

Answer 4

i believe it was galieao

Answer 5

Heliocentrism was brought up by Copernicus and later by Kepler and Galileo.

Answer 6

Whilst it's true that Galileo was eventually forbidden to teach the heliocentric theory of Copernicus (and as others have pointed out, he was not executed, but placed under illegal house arrest), the story is a little more complicated than the simplistic version of the heliocentric debate. The truth is, the Church was not especially bothered about the heliocentric theory, and indeed Galileo had received explicit permission to teach it on an "as if true" basis.

The real reason for Galileo's trial and condemnation had rather more to do with his work on atomic theory, which threatened the Church's dogma on Transubstantiation, the dogma on the Eucharistic bread and wine being, at the point of consecration, the body and blood of Jesus. It is almost certain that Galileo was 'stitched up' by a Jesuit, Fr. Christoph Scheiner, with whom he'd come into conflict earlier over a dispute on sunspots. Cardinal Bellarmino, who had a high regard for Galileo, declined to sign the house arrest warrant, which had the effect of de-legitimising it. One has to be very wary of viewing the seventeenth century through twenty-first century spectacles, and the simplistic portrayal of the dispute between Galileo and the Pope has led to a mistaken understanding in many quarters of what actually happened in this affair.

Answer 7

Giordano Bruno, burned at the stake on February 17, 1600 by the Catholic Church in "Campo de' Fiori, a central Roman market square."  A martyr to free thought.

Answer 8

Giordano Bruno got killed on the stake as heretic, for his teachings. He not only supported heliocentrism, he even claimed that our solar system could not be unique and there could be many other similar inside an infinite universe.

That was all tolerable for the church, but he finally also claimed:

That Christ was not God but merely an unusually skilful magician, that the Holy Ghost is the soul of the world, that the Devil will be saved, etc.

He really played with the fire. ;)

Answer 9

galelio....      :)

Answer 10

Copernicus

Answer 11

it wasnt galileo

Answer 12

Copernicus was one of many who said the Earth goes around the Sun.  He published his book from his death bed when he was quite old.

Galileo argued that the Earth goes around the Sun.  He was put into house arrest by the Catholic Church.  400 years or so later, the Catholic Church apologized to Galileo. Just a little late, in my opinion.

Much earlier, Democritus said that the Earth goes around the Sun. I suppose he didn't make friends and gain influence either.

But there are really good arguments that support the idea.  And there are some fairly easy tests to show anyone that it is essentially correct. It may be the truth, but you don't have to like it.

Answer 13

It was Galileo Galilei.

Galileo was eventually forced to recant his heliocentrism and spent the last years of his life under house arrest on orders of the Inquisition.

He wasn't killed.

Answer 14

You may be thinking of Giordano Bruno, one of the last individuals executed by the Roman Inquisition. While a Copernican, that wasn't the reason for his trial and execution. More information at the reference...

ADDED LATER: Sorry, other posters, but Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler are wrong. All three were devout Christians; none were executed by the Church (although Galileo spent the last several years of his life under house arrest). Bruno, while sometimes thought of as a martyr for science, was actually executed for heresy, thus satisfying the OP's statement that the subject was executed for being "against God." Bruno made little, if any, contribution to science.

Answer 15

it was galelio

trust me

Answer 16

Nicolaus Copernicus is best known for advocating a heliocentric approach to the Universe, meaning that the earth revolved around the sun rather than the sun revolving around the earth (the geocentric belief common at the time). This was contrary to the Church's teachings, but he was not killed by the Inquisitors. On the other hand, Galileo, who was born shortly after Copernicus died, became a strong supporter of Copernicusism, but was forced by the Inquisition, under threat of torture and death, to renounce his "heliocentric" position. He was put under house arrest where he died.

Answer 17

Giordano Bruno

Answer 18

You are thinking of Giordano Bruno

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano_Br...

sometimes called the "first martyr for science".

He did support the Copernicus cosmology, but that is not the real reason "they" killed him.

Here are the 8 reasons for his trial:

   1. Holding opinions contrary to the Catholic Faith and speaking against it and its ministers.

   2. Holding erroneous opinions about the Trinity, about Christ's divinity and Incarnation.

   3. Holding erroneous opinions about Christ.

   4. Holding erroneous opinions about Transubstantiation and Mass.

   5. Claiming the existence of a plurality of worlds and their eternity.

   6. Believing in metempsychosis and in the transmigration of the human soul into brutes.

   7. Dealing in magics and divination.

   8. Denying the Virginity of Mary.

Keep in mind that Bruno was an ordained priest who had already been excommunicated once.  Excommunication was lifted in exchange for this promise to not make things worst.  He made things worst.

Answer 19

Giordano Bruno. Of all the scientists mentioned here, he was the only one killed for his trouble.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano_Br...

Answer 20

Giordano Bruno and he was not really a scientist.  It was not primarily or even mainly for holding that the Sun was the centre of the local system,  Raymond has given you the correct answer.