The Bible tells us how to go to the heavens, not how the heavens go.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Galileo distinguishes the purpose of the Bible (spiritual guidance) from the study of nature (physical mechanics).
- In plain terms
- Scripture teaches salvation, not physics.
- What can you take from it?
- Science and scripture have different domains.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you separate different types of knowledge?
- What is the purpose of sacred texts?
Another view
Some argue scripture addresses both spiritual and physical realms.
More from Galileo Galilei
The great book of nature is written in mathematical symbols.
Permalink to quote #27 What has philosophy got to do with measuring anything?
Permalink to quote #29 Philosophy is written in this grand book- I mean the universe- which stands continually open to our gaze, but it cannot be understood unless one first learns t…
Permalink to quote #26
Related quotes
It is the modest, not the presumptuous, inquirer who makes a real and safe progress in the discovery of divine truths. One follows Nature and Nature's God; tha…
Henry, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke St JohnHenry, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke St John quote #5 Fundamentalist Christianity. Fascinating. These people actually believe the world is 12 thousand years old. Swear to God! Based on what? I asked them. 'Well, w…
Bill HicksBill Hicks quote #10 The language of God is not English or Latin; the language of God is cellular and molecular.
Timothy LearyTimothy Leary quote #23