[_ Old Earth _] GeoCentrism

[Dean]

I just found out my brother is a GeoCentrist. He believes that the Bible authoritatively PROVES that the sun revolves around the Earth.

For folks that don't know me, I'm an Evangelical Bible-believing Jesus Loving Christian - - have been for 30 years. I don't believe the Bible was written as a THEOLOGY textbook, however, let alone a SCIENCE textbook.

I think my brother's off his rocker.

Does anyone know where the supposed "BIBLICAL PROOFS" are in the Scriptures? Is this a widely held belief among the Pharasaical Protestant Lunatic Fringe?

 

[Asimov]

I just found out my brother is a GeoCentrist. He believes that the Bible authoritatively PROVES that the sun revolves around the Earth.

You have my sympathy.

For folks that don't know me, I'm an Evangelical Bible-believing Jesus Loving Christian - - have been for 30 years. I don't believe the Bible was written as a THEOLOGY textbook, however, let alone a SCIENCE textbook.

Well...obviously you are not, or you'd accept Geocentrism!! Heathen!

I think my brother's off his rocker.

I agree.

Does anyone know where the supposed "BIBLICAL PROOFS" are in the Scriptures? Is this a widely held belief among the Pharasaical Protestant Lunatic Fringe?

Well, it could be implied, when one looks at Genesis, how God focuses on the Earth's Creation. And puts lights up in the sky as the sun and the moon.

Other's could be in Isaiah, where it speaks of the circle of the earth, and the heavens are stretched out above it.

Another would be when God stopped the sun in the sky to give an extra day.

Other than that....I dunno.

 

[aamacgregor]

The Bible never states that the Sun revolves around the Earth. It is true that the Sun sits at the centre of our solar system, but we are the centre of Gods creation, it is therefore only natural that the Earth should be spoken of as a reference point.

In fact, physics more than allows for the earth being used as a reference point in the same way as the Bible uses it, through relativity. The thinking is this,

Earth in relation to a man standing still on its surface is not moving. Therefore in relation to the point of observation, the Sun is moving around the point of observation (Earth). This is a basic principle of relativity in physics.

At the end of the day, if your brother wants to believe that the Sun revolves around the Earth, then through relativity that is fine. But though the Bible speaks of other objects with respect to the Earth, it does not support the idea that Earth is the centre of mass point of our solar system. Technically speaking the Sun, to first approximation sits on the centre of mass point (the real rotation point), so we associate the Sun with the centre of the solar system.

I hope this helps

 

[keebs]

At the end of the day, if your brother wants to believe that the Sun revolves around the Earth, then through relativity that is fine.

It's one thing to use the earth as a reference point, but it's another to say that the entire universe revolves around the earth. Gravity doesn't work like that.

 

[cubedbee]

Interesting read--throws out lots of physics terms.

http://www.geocentricity.com/whygeocentricity.htm

 

[aamacgregor]

It's one thing to use the earth as a reference point, but it's another to say that the entire universe revolves around the earth. Gravity doesn't work like that.

It has nothing to do with gravity, but with the point of observation. Read a physics book that gives an introduction to relativity. Basically with relativity, the observer is taken as stationary, and everything else is described with respect to the observer.

The Bible does not teach Geocentricity, but relativity. The Bible always speaks with respect to the observer (man), and all of its quotations are therefore with respect to the observer and therefore completely correct. The Bible does not teach that the Earth is the physical centre, but it is the centre with respect to importance.

Interesting read--throws out lots of physics terms.

http://www.geocentricity.com/whygeocentricity.htm

Again, read an introduction to relativity and you will see that the link you just included is a complete load of rubbish.

I am not a Geocentrist, but I am a physicist that realises that there are no problems or faults with the Bibles quotations, since they merely speak from the oberservers (man) point of view and this is perfectly valid.

It is sad that the grand mistake is that many people think that the Bible is saying that the Earth is the centre of mass (gravitational centre to all intents and purposes) of our universe, or even our solar system. This is obviously not the case and the Bible certainly does not teach this. It merely describes the motion of other objects with respect to the point of observation (Earth). This is relativity simply stated and is perfectly acceptable.

 

[Asimov]

It's one thing to use the earth as a reference point, but it's another to say that the entire universe revolves around the earth. Gravity doesn't work like that.

It has nothing to do with gravity, but with the point of observation. Read a physics book that gives an introduction to relativity. Basically with relativity, the observer is taken as stationary, and everything else is described with respect to the observer.

The Bible does not teach Geocentricity, but relativity. The Bible always speaks with respect to the observer (man), and all of its quotations are therefore with respect to the observer and therefore completely correct. The Bible does not teach that the Earth is the physical centre, but it is the centre with respect to importance.

Could you possibly throw out a couple verses to support this?

 

[Dean]

Brother Keebs! I enjoyed your post on "FAITH" in Apologetics. It's still active, btw.

Anyone know if there are any FLAT EARTHERS remaining?

 

[aamacgregor]

Anyone know if there are any FLAT EARTHERS remaining?

Probably. But I'm sure they will die out at some point.

Could you possibly throw out a couple verses to support this?

Yes the verses that your link supplied trying to show that the Bible teaches geocentrism. These verses actually just state movement of objects relative to the observer (on Earth). This is general relativity, not geocentrism. For examples of general relativity, look at the following verses.

Ecclesiastes 1, verse 5:
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

and

Joshua 10:13:
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.