Geocentric theory

Template:StubThe geocentric theory stated that the earth ("geo-") is the center of the universe.

Originally proposed by Ptolemy, it was abandoned when the observations of Copernicus lead Galileo to propose the Heliocentric theory, i.e. that the Universe revolves around the Sun. This theory has itself now been abandoned as newer observations have lead Astronomers to see the Sun as just one star among billions and abandon the notion of the Universe having any center.

The Geocentric view was not abandoned easily as some Christians interpreted Biblical passages (Chronicles 16:30 , Psalm 104:5, Ecclesiastes 1:5) as supporting the theory and saw any challange to it as heretical. Giordano Bruno for example had been burned to death in part for supporting Heliocentricism. Galileo himself was at first imprisoned and later held under house arrest.

In 1992 the Roman Catholic Church acknowledged Galileo's role in overturning the Geocentric theory. [1]