The rest of the time he was under house arrest living in relative luxury compared to the average European.
Remember what's being claimed here is that Christian instituions are by nature anti-science or somehow inherently impede scientific progress.
Galileo was not treated fairly but you mustn't forget that he was a Christian, was supported by a lot of Christians and, most importantly, that a Christian culture allowed -- encouraged -- him to investigate and publish.
Well, "house arrest" means that he was confined to his own house. It was, I assume, something he provided for himself, from his own earnings. I don't see how the quality of the house cuts either for or against the Church. You may own a nice house, but if you were confined to it for 9 years, you wouldn't think the authorities were doing you any great favor for treating your own house, bought with your own money, as your prison. Anyway, it's clear that Galileo was kept under house arrest for the last 9 years of his life, and that was the point that drew me into this discussion.
Remember what's being claimed here is that Christian instituions are by nature anti-science or somehow inherently impede scientific progress.
Clearly, the Galileo affair isn't one of Christianity's great shining moments. Nor was it intended to be a sign of encouragment for independent-minded researchers. Quite the opposite. But that was then. I'm not one of those who runs around bashing the Church, or other Christians. (Creationists, yes, I criticize their views on evolution; but I certainly don't criticize Christians in general.) The Church has admited its error, and Galileo has been pardoned. It came more than three centuries too late, but still they pardoned him, for which I greatly respect the present-day Church.
Galileo was not treated fairly but you mustn't forget that he was a Christian, was supported by a lot of Christians and, most importantly, that a Christian culture allowed -- encouraged -- him to investigate and publish.
Well yes, he was a Christian, but his astronomical and other discoveries didn't come from scripture, and it's debatable whether the culture in those days encouraged such scientific study. For example: Giordano Bruno (1548-1600). There were terrible abuses in the name of religion in those days. I hope that none of us wants a return of those conditions.
Geordano Bruno didn't fare quite so well. But, then, he wasn't buds with the Pope, either.
Galileo was not treated fairly but you mustn't forget that he was a Christian, was supported by a lot of ChristiansIt's true that he had a lot of christian friends, among them, before he published "Dialogue", the pope. But it's worth noting that even though the pope even had had written poems to Galileo and enjoyed long conversations with him, their friendship ended after "Dialogue". After publication they never talked again, perhaps mainly because the pope thought (more or less correctly) that one of the fictional characters in the book was a caricature of him.