Early scientists knew full well that Earth is spherical. Science historian Edward Grant reports that, according to scholarly consensus, science began when institutions and practices central to the scientific endeavor were established during the seventeenth century. Setting aside the tu quoque fallacy and the implied forfeiture of biblical inerrancy, let’s be clear about the following historical fact: scientists never believed Earth is flat. To defend the religious belief in a flat Earth by pointing out that scientists also believed in a flat Earth is to commit the tu quoque fallacy, pronounced too-kwoh-kwee, meaning “You, too.” (This reminds me of Pee-wee Herman snarking, “I know you are, but what am I?”) Such a defense of flat-Earth passages implicitly forfeits any claim of biblical inerrancy. ![]() Some reluctantly admit that it is a flat-Earth book, but they downplay the significance, yawning, “So what? Scientists also once believed Earth is flat.” They scoff at the suggestion that the Bible is a flat-Earth book. By and large, Christians nowadays are sensible globists who want nothing to do with flat-Earth nonsense. These folks brandish the Bible’s flat-Earth passages like Crusaders’ swords.įor perspective, however, less than 5 percent of Americans are flat-Earthers. The single greatest risk factor for becoming a flat-Earther is high confidence in the Bible. ![]() The percentage of flat-Earthers who consider themselves highly religious is over twice the percentage in the general population. Apologists may point out that no simple declarative statement in the Bible says, “Earth is flat.” + But, as we will see over the next few pages, the most natural and plausible interpretations of relevant Bible passages plainly depict Earth as a flat circular disk covered by a solid dome, much like a snow globe. Biblical inerrantists should be challenged to explain why the Bible says Earth is flat.
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