Blog Jones

It is with great dismay that I observe the rise of modern-day anti-scientists who seem determined to push our society back into the Dark Ages. Distressingly, these attacks against knowledge are often cloaked in the robes of religion.

Take, for example, the case of Robert Sungenis. This guy is a modern-day geocentrist and author of a 1,000 page book called “Galileo Was Wrong.”

According to the Sun-Herald article linked above, he is convinced, due to verses from the Bible, that the earth does not move around the sun. He tries to explain away evidence to the contrary, claiming that there is no proof that the earth revolves around the sun.

But what about Foucault’s famous pendulum? Its plane of oscillation revolves every 24 hours, showing the rotation of the planet. If the Earth didn’t rotate, it wouldn’t oscillate.

Nope, Sungenis said: There just may be some other force propelling it, such as the pull of stars.

If you’re really determined, you can always find some way to explain away any piece of evidence thrown at you.

The man’s website, FixedEarth.com, only serves to further prove his lack of credibility. He uses terms like “the Copernican Counterfeit” and “occult mathematics” as well as a writing/design style that is vaguely reminiscent of the famous Time Cube guy (warning: terrible web design, profanity, raving lunacy).

The point is this: Science needs to be based on evidence, not religious dogma. Quoting the article again, “As Galileo famously quoted 16th century Cardinal Caesar Baronius, ‘The Bible was written to show us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens go.’”

Neither the Bible nor any other religious work have any place in the realm of science. I say again, base your science on the objective evidence, not on any religious text.

If your interpretation of the Bible is right, then it will stand up to the evidence. If it isn’t, then you need to fix your interpretation of the Bible.

Carefully and objectively crossexamine the evidence. Research. Test your theories against opposing theories. But whatever you do, don’t throw out scientific evidence because it disagrees with your worldview. That isn’t faith, it’s ignorance.

(Via Newsvine)