Galileo, Bellarmine, and the Bible

by Richard J. Blackwell

Considered the paradigm case of the troubled interaction between science and religion, the conflict between Galileo and the Church continues to generate new research and lively debate. Richard J. Blackwell offers a fresh approach to the Galileo case, using as his primary focus the biblical and ecclesiastical issues that were the battleground for the celebrated confrontation. Blackwell's research in the Vatican manuscript collection and the Jesuit archives in Rome enables him to re-create a vivid picture of the trends and counter-trends that influenced leading Catholic thinkers of the the conservative reaction to the Reformation, the role of authority in biblical exegesis and in guarding orthodoxy from the inroads of "unbridled spirits," and the position taken by Cardinal Bellarmine and the Jesuits in attempting to weigh the discoveries of the new science in the context of traditional philosophy and theology. A centerpiece of Blackwell's investigation is his careful reading of the brief treatise Letter on the Motion of the Earth by Paolo Antonio Foscarini, a Carmelite scholar, arguing for the compatibility of the Copernican system with the Bible. Blackwell appends the first modern translation into English of this important and neglected document, which was placed on the Index of Forbidden Books in 1616. Though there were differing and competing theories of biblical interpretation advocated in Galileo's time―the legacy of the Council of Trent, the views of Cardinal Bellarmine, the most influential churchman of his time, and, finally, the claims of authority and obedience that weakened the abillity of Jesuit scientists to support the new science―all contributed to the eventual condemnation of Galileo in 1633. Blackwell argues convincingly that the maintenance of ecclesiastical authority, not the scientific issues themselves, led to that tragic trial.

Genres: History, History Of Science

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this way back in 2008, when I hadn't read much history, but I found this book very interesting. It integrated things quite well.

It's really very sad what these people were doing. The best among them (Galileo, Foscarini, early Bellarmine, etc.) were bending over backwards to make the Bible fit with science. Bellarmine decided scripture could be interpreted as: literal (either simple or figurative), or spiritual (either allegorical, tropological, or anagogical). These are the sorts of things one has to do to make ancient tribal myths fit with even the most rudimentary science.

However, that was all wonderful compared to what came later (post 1616). The Church decided to go with the literal simple meaning pretty much all the time, and kill anyone who didn't like it. (Galileo didn't directly address it after 1616, recanted whatever he did address, and was friends with the pope - and he was still threatened with torture.) Jesuit science was destroyed by this. For example, Ignatius (the founder of the Jesuits) said, "every obedient man should conform his thought to the thought of his Superior." Bellarmine concurred, and established a de dicto principle that made every statement of the Bible a moral claim. Galileo had tried to preserve the authority of the Bible on matters of faith and morals, but give science priority in its domain, and Bellarmine's statement cut this avenue off.

Non-overlapping magisteria my ass. Gah.

[EA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, if you're interested in a fair discussion and portrayal of the main player's perspectives and concerns of the Gailileo "Affair". Blackwell takes the time to tease out some of the details about what was deemed to be 'in conflict' with Church teaching and why, as well as the influence of non-Church, but still powerful cultural forces that were in play.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional historical analysis and discussion of a fascinating historical period. There are arguments over historical nuance in this space, but fundamentally Galileo advocated a now indisputable scientific hypothesis, and the Church put him on trial, forced him to recant and humiliated him in the process.

[Osama K Mahmood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a required reading for one of my freshman year classes at NYU. Thoroughly uninteresting and dry.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice, clear account focusing on how Galileo's run-in with the Inquisition wound up being more about Scriptural and exegetical authority in the midst of the Counter Reformation than an actual debate over how a heliocentric universe could mesh with Christianity. It's also an interesting read if you're curious as to how a literal reading of the Bible started to grow in prominence.

[Andie]

Was reading this as research for a class. Unfortunately, it only held my interest for that long. DNF.