A True Turnaround, A Real Revolution
A COPERNICAN RE-VISION OF SEX
Imagine the shock of learning that the obvious is not what it seems. In 1543 the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus shook up scientists, philosophers, and theologians by proving that the sun does not revolve around the earth, and that the earth is not the center of the universe, as taught by Ptolemy. Although Copernicus, and others before him, had suspected this and theorized about it, his book On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres became regarded as the defining proof.
Though to the human eye the sun appears to rise in the east and set in the west, it actually does no such thing. The earth is not the center of the physical universe; it is a rotating sphere that revolves around the sun.
This change in view did not come easily. According to a letter from Galileo to Johannes Kepler in 1610, some of the intellectuals at that time were so opposed to this new concept of the cosmic world that they refused to look through a telescope to see the evidence.
The new awareness of reality provided by Copernicus was an opportunity for philosophers and theologians to develop their own “turnaround way of thinking.” But they failed to see its relevance for their own particular areas of truth-seeking. Other matters besides the cosmic were waiting, and are still waiting, for a Copernican-like revolution. One of the most urgent of these is our way of interpreting human sexuality.
You May Also Enjoy
Sustained national discussion of taboo topics like contraception and Planned Parenthood have yielded valuable 'teaching moments' and surprisingly countercultural essays in some mainstream venues.
The cover of the May 3, 1996, National Catholic Reporter featured a dramatic drawing of…
Yes, it’s really true. But no, there will be no gala banquet with a roster…