Name: Episode 107: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship. (1) Foundational Principle: The Two Divine Books
Uploaded: 2017-09-25T18:52:54.910Z
Duration: 5 min 47 s

Episode 107.

We're now going to examine what I consider to be

the most valuable part of this section on astronomy and the Galileo affair.

And this is Galileo's amazing hermeneutics and

his remarkably peaceful science and religion relationship.

To freshen your memory, in 1613,

there was a breakfast and to our discussion afterwards,

in attendance was the Grand Duchess Christina who asked

about the theological implications of Galileo's astronomy.

Specifically, was Galileo undermining Christian faith?

Galileo responded with the letter to Castelli in 1613.

Galileo expanded his response into the letter to the Grand Duchess Christina in 1615.

I would encourage everyone to read this letter because it's truly amazing.

Not only was Galileo an amazing scientist,

he had a remarkable grasp with theology.

In this subsection, I'll offer a summary of his views based mostly,

on the letter to the Grand Duchess Christina.

The foundational principle of Galileo's theology is his belief in the two divine books,

the Book of Scripture and the Book of Nature.

According to Galileo, scripture and nature are rooted in the Trinitarian God.

In Quote Nine, he states,

for the holy scripture and nature derive equally from the Godhead.

The former, as a dictation of the Holy Spirit; and the latter,

as the most obedient executrix of God's orders.

The word Godhead is a term for the Holy Trinity -- The Father,

Son and The Holy Spirit.

Therefore, Galileo specifically believed in the God of

Christianity and not just some nebulous Unknown God.

Also, note the balance between the two books -- both derive equally from God,

one is not more important than the other.

Galileo also believed that Scripture and Nature reveal God.

In Quote Ten, he writes,

God reveals Himself to us no less excellently in the: number one,

effects of nature; then in number two,

the sacred words of scripture, as Tertullian,

who was an early church theologian,

perhaps meant when he said,

"We postulate that God ought first to be known by

nature and afterwards further known by doctrine,

by nature through his works,

by doctrine through his official teaching."

Again, we see Galileo's marvelous balance between the two divine books,

with both being equally excellent.

We also see that Galileo had a strong view of natural revelation or intelligent design.

He suggests that we should first start with nature in order to know God.

Galileo recognized that Scripture and Nature had different roles.

First, he argued for the priority of scripture over nature in theological issues.

In Quote 11 he states,

"I have no doubt at all that where human reason cannot

reach and where consequently one cannot have a science,

but only opinion and faith,

it is appropriate piously to conform absolutely to the literal meaning of scripture."

Quotation 11 reflects the metaphysics-physics principle,

in that theology that is metaphysics is beyond science, that is physics.

And notably, Galileo also accepts the literal meaning of theological statements.

On the other hand,

Galileo argued for the priority of Nature over Scripture in scientific issues.

He writes in Quote 12,

"I think that in disputes about natural phenomena,

one must begin not with the authority of scriptural passages but instead,

with sensory experience and necessary demonstrations."

In other words, science.

Galileo then makes an insightful suggestion.

After becoming certain of some physical conclusions,

we should use these as very appropriate aids to the correct interpretation of scripture.

It's quite clear from this passage that Galileo rejects scientific concordism.

The Bible is not a book of science and we should never use it in scientific debates.

But more interestingly, Galileo adds that science contributes to hermeneutics,

and that scientific conclusions can be very

appropriate aides to the correct interpretation of scripture.

If we think about it, we do use science to understand the Bible.

Thanks to astronomy, we know that references to the sun moving across

the sky and scripture reflect an ancient understanding of astronomy.

In the first half of the course,

we identified the use of science to interpret the Bible,

as the Baconian hermeneutic in hermeneutical principle number 11.

Sir Francis Bacon argued that the creatures are a key to understanding the scriptures.

In the light of Galileo's insight that science contributes to understanding scripture,

we can ask a provocative question,

is evolutionary biology a very appropriate aid to

the correct interpretation of the Genesis One and Two creation accounts?

What do you think?

End of episode.

Episode 107: Galileo’s Hermeneutics and Science & Religion Relationship. (1) Foundational Principle: The Two Divine Books

Science & Religion 101

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