Galileo

Galileo Galilei
   
    Heresy is a word that should not be used lightly, an aspect
which makes my plight of the utmost importance to
understand. Perhaps it would be better to discuss intent
rather than accusation, as the goal of my work focuses more
on the scientific understanding of how this world works
compared to the destruction of the religious beliefs of our
society, the latter of which I am being charged with. It is
important to understand that the purpose of my findings was
to enlighten, not to vengefully contradict the Catholic
Church. All blame aside, I understand my position in society
as a mere scholar, if nothing more. From this idea stems one
aspect of my defense: Would an intelligent man purposefully
challenge the Church, which is the basis of modern society?
I would argue not, and I will do my best to defend myself in
a way that describes the importance of scientific fact in
furthering our society in the realms of knowledge and
understanding.
    Before my delve into astronomy, the principles of the
Church stated the Earth was the primary center of the
universe, suspended motionless with the planets and sun
acting as crystalline spheres revolving circularly around
it. This is the basis of the Aristotelian Ptolemaic system,
developed back in 1500 AD, which served as the geocentric
doctrine for the Catholic Church’s teachings. In this
model, the spheres served as a map towards the location of
God in the Empyrean Heaven, placed beyond the ninth planet
in the system. This entire theory perfectly adhered to the
Christian idea of salvation within reach, assigning human
beings the responsibility of reigning over Earth in a
forthright manner, lest their fate be doomed.
    Nicolaus Copernicus was the famed astrologer and
mathematician who originally brought the heliocentric system
into the spectrum. This model places the sun in the middle
of the universe, with eight spheres revolving around it in
set motion. The earth...