Are you a Left View or Right View thinker?
To find out, answer the following four questions.
Around 350 BC, the Greek philosopher Aristotle proposed a model of the universe. He claimed that Earth was at the center and the sun, moon, and stars revolved around Earth on crystal spheres — all part of God's perfect design.
Aristotle's model of the universe was accepted and adopted as the official world view. For almost 2,000 years, people lived and died assuming Earth was at the center of the universe. In the 1500s, with the advent of the telescope, some people began to consider that Earth might not be the center of the universe after all. Still, even through the 1600s, most people went through life believing in a false reality.
Looking back, we see why such a belief remained unshakable for so long. The notion of a central Earth was proved the existence of God. It made Earth and its inhabitants special. However, as the evidence grew, and with the old guard dwindling in numbers over time, a great social debate over the relationship of Earth to the sun expanded until it echoed around the globe.
People at parties, in taverns, working in service shops, and toiling in the fields must have discussed and debated the possibilities. Was Earth at the center of the universe, or was it just another planet revolving around the sun? We can imagine the discussions around the dinner table with children questioning their parents on their view of the world. Naturally, the parents were stunned and dismayed that their children had become defiant and disrespectful. The discussions must have been heated at times because the notion of a central and stationary Earth challenged more than the majority view. Questioning the idea of a perfect universe was an affront to theological doctrine.
At least on principle, do you agree or disagree with our analysis to this point?