In fact, some of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries were made by Catholic clergy.
Here are the top 5 scientific breakthroughs made by priests…🧵 (thread)
5) Atomic Theory (Boscovich Model)
Roger Boscovich, a Croatian physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, was a Catholic priest in the Jesuit order. His model of the atom, the “Boscovich Model,” was a forerunner to modern atomic theory.
His theory was an attempt to find a middle way between Newton’s theory of gravity and Gottfried Leibniz's metaphysical theory of monad-points (points of original substance).
In addition to physics, Boscovich made significant astronomical observations; in particular the moon.
4) Seismology
One of the pioneers in the field of seismology was Fr. Giuseppe Mercalli in the late 19th and early 20th century.
He’s famous for developing the Mercalli Intensity Scale which measures the intensity of seismic shaking caused by earthquakes.
Though the Richter scale superseded his scale for magnitude measurement, the Mercalli scale remains the method for assessing the impact of earthquakes on people and buildings.
Mercalli’s commitment to science and his faith exemplify the harmony between the two realms.
3) Genetic Theory
Gregor Mendel, “the father of modern genetics,” was a 19th-century Augustinian friar and abbot. He developed Mendelian genetic theory by observing the inherited traits in pea plants, paving the way for our modern understanding of heredity.
Mendel’s discoveries were initially ignored. Notably Charles Darwin had no idea about Mendel’s work. It’s possible had he known, genetics would have developed much earlier.
The significance of his work was only finally realized after his death.
2) The Big Bang
The Big Bang theory of the universe’s origin was first posited by Georges Lemaitre, a Belgian astronomer. physicist, and priest. His theory shocked the scientific community when it was first published in 1927, but has since been widely accepted.
Lemaitre’s model upset the millennia-old belief of an eternal cosmos. His theory implied that everything came from an ultra-dense, tiny point, and its expansion birthed time and space.
Contrary to common belief, it was anti-religious sentiment that prevented the Big Bang theory from broad acceptance early on.
Atheist scientists were repulsed by the Big Bang's creationist overtones—it seemed too similar to the creation story in the Book of Genesis.
1) Heliocentrism
Nicolaus Copernicus was an early proponent of heliocentrism, the theory that the sun centered the solar system.
It’s possible that Copernicus, a Renaissance-era polymath dubbed the “father of modern astronomy,” was also a Catholic priest.
Copernicus held various positions within the Church, and the Catholic Encyclopedia claims he was ordained since in 1537 he was a candidate for the episcopal seat of Warmia, a seat that required ordination. Some scholars contest whether he was ever actually ordained though.
The idea that science and religion are at odds is a fairly new concept.
Despite the modern misconception, it’s historically been religious institutions, especially the Catholic Church, who have been the main drivers of scientific advancement in the West.
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All empires repeat the same cycle, says 20th-century historian John Glubb.
He observed that for the past 3000 years every civilization has followed the same 6 stages before decline—what are they?🧵
Sir John Bagot Glubb was a British soldier and author who served as the commanding general for Transjordan's Arab Legion from 1939 to 1956.
In his later years he wrote about geopolitics and world history, and penned a succinct description of how civilizations rise and fall…
Glubb’s 1978 work, “The Fate of Empires and the Search for Survival,” is an idea-dense essay that argues all great empires follow an eerily similar pattern.
From observing 11 distinct cultures, Glubb draws some intriguing conclusions that have implications for modern society.
The East India Company was the most powerful corporation of all time.
It had an army larger than Great Britain's, and its influence shaped the borders of nations.
So how did a company become stronger than most countries?🧵
The East India Company's origins started with famed explorer Francis Drake.
His voyage in 1577 opened the world to the East Indies, and when he returned to England in 1580, he brought exotic spices from the Spice Islands that investors believed could be a lucrative venture.
Soon after, the Queen granted a charter to a group of wealthy merchants and explorers for the region. The new corporation was called “Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies” or more commonly the “East India Company.”
Alexander the Great’s tomb has been missing for centuries. Over 140 official attempts have been made to locate it. All have failed.
But one rogue historian thinks he’s finally found it.
He claims everyone's been looking in the wrong place…🧵
Alexander’s body wasn’t always missing. We know that figures like Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Augustus visited his tomb in Alexandria during the 1st century BC.
But somewhere along the way it disappears from the record…
By the time St. John Chrysostom visited Alexandria in 400 AD, he was unable to locate the tomb and said of Alexander "his tomb even his own people know not.”
There are a few mentions of the tomb afterward, but nothing reliable, and as of today no one knows where it is.
At least, that’s according to 18th-century historian Alexander Tytler.
He claimed democracies always follow a predictable pattern and are doomed to end in servitude…🧵
Tytler was a Scottish judge, writer, and Professor of Universal History as well as Greek and Roman Antiquities at the University of Edinburgh.
After studying dozens of civilizations, he noticed some intriguing patterns…
He believed that democracies naturally evolved from initial virtue to eventual corruption and decline.
In ancient Greece, for example, he argued that "the patriotic spirit and love of ingenious freedom...became gradually corrupted as the nation advanced in power and splendor."