I speak on behalf of Galileo. I will defend his revolutionary idea regarding the position of the Earth relatively to the sun. I believe that Galileo’s proposition is the accurate description of the solar system. I will resolve the conflict between Galileo and the officials of the Roman Catholic Church.
I will prove to them that Galileo is not a heretic. I will make them understand that there is no truth to the accusations against Galileo. His ideas regarding the solar system must not be seen as a deliberate attack against the doctrines and belief system of the Roman Catholic Church. I will persuade religious leaders of the positive effects of separating science from religion, and illustrate that the design of the solar system was a part of God’s plan to protect planet Earth.
While preparing for the defense, I will consider the fact that the Roman Catholic Church is the most powerful institution in Europe. It is not wise for me to initiate a systematic attack on the institution if my goal is to save Galileo from his persecutors. My first goal is to persuade them of the benefits of separating science from religion. It is wise to appeal to them, and explain that there is no need for religion to demean science’s contributions to society. Without a doubt the scientific method of inquiry has its flaws. There are certain areas in life that are beyond the scope of science.
By using this type of argument, it is easier to acquire a sympathetic ear from the religious leaders. After a successful implementation of the first strategy, I will proceed to the second phase of the plan to rescue Galileo. I will make them understand that it is not Galileo’s intention to attack the Roman Catholic Church. He is simply describing the actual design of the solar system. It is important to let them realize that it is God’s plan to design a solar system wherein the sun is located at the center.
They must realize that the Earth is vulnerable to meteors, asteroids and other foreign objects. In order for planet Earth to survive, there is a need for a large planet to act as a sentry at the outer rim of the solar system. I will illustrate that Jupiter protects the Earth as it acts as a shield against dangerous foreign objects. Due to the gigantic size of Jupiter, large meteors, asteroids, and other foreign objects are attracted to it. Thus, there is a low probability that large foreign objects will approach the Earth’s orbit. Therefore, the officials of the Roman Catholic Church must appreciate the design of the solar system.
Conclusion
I believe that the Roman Catholic officials must understand the separation of science and religion. However, this is not enough to save Galileo from the clutches of his persecutors. Therefore, I must look for a common ground shared between these two conflicting parties. The common ground that they share is the appreciation of the design of the solar system. I will illustrate the value of the solar system’s current design. Therefore, it is in accordance to God’s plan to place the sun in the center, because the position of the sun ensures the revolution of different planets that act as shields to protect the Earth from the threat of meteors and asteroids.