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Rethious t1_j4k9h10 wrote

Reply to comment by Van_GOOOOOUGH in TIL Aristarchus of Samos in the 3rd Century BCE was the first to present the model of the Sun as the center of our Solar system and also placed the other known planets in correct order of distance from the sun. He also correctly surmised that stars were other far distant suns. by CapnFancyPants

Looking into it, Copernicus was called an idiot more than he was a blasphemer. He had noticed something that was correct, but it was hard for others to believe because it meant the entire field of astronomy up to that point had been wrong. The theological argument was secondary to the scientific criticism.

The criticism was in good faith, and debate over it led to further investigation and the Copernican Revolution.

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CurseYourSudden t1_j4knwja wrote

Galileo (not Copernicus) claimed that he had proven something, but the peer review said it wasn't proof, just a strong argument. This peer review was under the auspices of the pope, so he publicly called the Pope an idiot in retaliation. Galileo also kind of started working on his own church to really drive home the "I do what I want" energy, while alienating basically everyone that had previously supported him (including Renaissance Italian politicians).

The Pope put him on house arrest and probably saved his life by doing so. Renaissance Italian politics was real big on assassinations.

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