2007-01-25 15:09:13 · 24 answers · asked by a sock 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It took them a long time to accept that idea, even.
2007-01-25 15:20:36 · answer #1 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 6⤊ 3⤋
This was known in the Greek world before the time of Jesus. Pythagoras pointed out that the shadow cast by the Earth on the moon was always round, so the Earth had to be a sphere. One of Aristotle's students actually estimated the circumference of the Earth within 80 miles.
2007-01-25 23:34:41 · answer #2 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible NEVER refers to the earth as an ORB... it says round, with a tent over it. imagine a trampoline with a bubble of cloth over it creating a half circle... that's what they thought of... why else would there be mention of places whereupon one could see ALL OF THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH? that's impossible on an ORB!
Isaiah 40:22
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
EDIT:
ALSO, look at what GOD said to Job after he claimed he knew how god Hung the Earth on Nothing...
Job 38:1-4
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?"
Daniel 4:10-11
The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the END of the whole earth.
Now, this all fits with what we already know about what the ancients believed about the earth and since the catholic church didn't believe in a round earth for manycenturies after all of this was written and 99.9% of all people alive at the time of the bible also believed in a flat earth, there is no reason to assume that "round" meant "orb." That's called wordsmithing.
2007-01-25 23:28:36 · answer #3 · answered by Shawn M 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because of the scientific evidence. There are photos taken from space that show that the earth is round.
2007-01-25 23:25:37 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What I wanna know is when the attack on the heretical Periodic Table of Elements will begin.
I mean EVERYONE knows that there are only four elements.
Air
Fire
Earth
and Water.
---
Oh and "circle of the earth" refers to the HORIZON and not the spherical nature of the planet.
We should bring back the inquisition. Then we'd be able to get rid of those pesky "scientist" infidels.
2007-01-25 23:24:06 · answer #5 · answered by mmd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isaiah 40:22 tells us so, read it: "There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth, the dwellers in which are as grasshoppers, the One who is stretching out the heavens just as a fine gauze, who spreads them out like a tent in which to dwell"
Job 26:7,".He is stretching out the north over the empty place, Hanging the earth upon nothing."
That these books written before 700 BC contains such astoundingly accurate facts is astounding. Such things no one postulated until very recently in all human history. It constitutes part of the proof to Christians that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
2007-01-25 23:32:07 · answer #6 · answered by Fuzzy 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
i'm a christian and i know through visual elements seen from space and mathematical evidence derived through studying earth's position in the solar system.
also, the earth is not round. it is disproportionately wider at the equator than it is at the poles.
2007-01-25 23:22:42 · answer #7 · answered by bigwoodenhead 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the bible the prophet Isaiah called the earth a circle thousands of years ago. (Isaiah 40:22)
2007-01-25 23:49:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, if you truly belive the bible, you KNOW for yourself that its flat, ummovable. Also, If you have faith, you shouldnt be doubting your Holy Bible anyway. But I will let you in on a secret. Its round! Like a ball. It rotates on an axis. A tilted one at that. Hence seasons. Thats all :P
2007-01-25 23:35:13 · answer #9 · answered by Jeremy Hall 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the Bible doesn't contradict this theory. The "ends of the earth/four winds/four corners" senerio isn't plausible, as this was just an expression to emphasize messages God was trying to convey, such as abundance, domain, etc.
and who ever heard of a flat planet? it goes against all rationality.
2007-01-25 23:24:07 · answer #10 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isaiah 40:21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? (22) It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; (23) who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. (24) Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. (25) To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. (26) Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
2007-01-25 23:30:16 · answer #11 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋