Martin Luther on Copernicus
November 5th, 2006 | Published in Astronomy, History, Quotes, Religion, Science | 3 Comments
[Nicolaus Copernicus is] an upstart astrologer…. This fool wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but sacred Scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth.
–Martin Luther (attributed), as quoted in Daniel Boorstin, The Discoverers (1983), p. 302
January 10th, 2007 at 5:14 pm (#)
FWIW a minor point to start with, your version is from somebody who was not present at the table when Luther made his comment.
But to the meat of the matter:
I’m not a big fan of leaderu however I think they put things in better perspective
quoting:
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 am (#)
The article you quote is attributed to Professor Donald Kobe whose conclusion seems poorly construed in light of the following:
“In 1530 Copernicus summed up all of his theories, ideas, and observations in his book De Revolutionibus orbium coelestium (“On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres”) … This manuscript was printed and published in 1543 …” {http://www.polskiinternet.com/english/nicolascopernicus.html}
And,
“Copernicus summarized it [his theory] in 1530 and circulated it among Europe’s scholars, where it was greeted with enthusiasm.” {http://www.answers.com/topic/nicolas-copernicus}
It should have been well within Luther’s power to learn more about Copernican theory during the decade in which it circulated among “Europe’s scholars.” The Pope himself had received a presentation of it with some interest.
“In 1533 John Widmanstad, a papal secretary, lectured on Copernicus’s theory before Pope Clement VII and several cardinals. Widmanstad’s hand was behind the letter which Cardinal Schönberg sent in 1536 from Rome to Copernicus, urging him to publish his thoughts, or at least to share them with him.” {http://www.answers.com/topic/nicolas-copernicus}
Given the other cosmological comments made by Luther and the fact that there is no record of his having ever recanted from his anti-Copernican sentiments, there is no reason to assume that he was more broadminded than he appears to be in that regard.
February 9th, 2012 at 5:55 am (#)
Luther also said that reason and intellect were enemies of faith, to be utterly crushed and destroyed.