400

Today is the 400th anniversary of the development of Galileo Galilei's telescope, a man whose belief in science challenged the centuries' old teachings of Aristotle (a heavier object falls to the ground faster than a lighter one) and the church (the earth is the center of the universe). In sixteenth century Italy, you could go to prison or be executed for challenging the church. It's word was law- literally. Ecclesiastical law. That's right. The idea that the earth was the center of the universe was a doctrinal idea that carried the weight of law.

Well, not so much anymore. Thanks to thinkers like Galileo and Copernicus, we were able to move past some of these "laws" by demonstrating as a matter of scientific fact that the earth traveled around the sun. Aside from the achievements in science these men (and women) gave us, they helped us define our own legal boundaries. Thanks to their efforts and beliefs in science as a separate and independent doctrine from religion, they helped pave the way for Americans and most of the western world to legislate the separation of church and state.

Sure, we acknowledge our American founders as creating the idea, but it never would have happened had men whose belief in science led them to, at the risk of death, challenge centuries of religious teachings. So, you can thank Galileo for helping to come up with the First Amendment - 400 years ago. See, we're pretty progressive as a people, just a little slow to document.

Have a great day.