Scientific Arguments for Geocentricity

[Note: When I sent out an e-mail concerning geocentricity (see end of this page), I received a pretty hostile response from professing Bible believers though a handful were already aware of geocentrism. One of our readers, Chris, submitted the following information written by Malcom Bowden.]

Update from BiblicalScholarship.net concerning geocentricity–

The simple subsistence farmer with God on his side and a strong ox to plow his fields is far better off than an educationally deceived, pleasure-loving American who sees the sun rise and says that it only appears to do so. Even professed Christians walk around with this heliocentric deception– in spite of scriptures such as Isaiah 38:8 that clearly teach that the sun moves. It is the earth that stands still. To most of us, this sounds so far out–but why? Our own eyes tell us that the sun rises and sets. We even say, “the sun is rising,” “the sun is setting”. Why does it sound so far out when someone says the sun actually has a circuit? It is because a spinning earth hurling through “space” (actually the firmament) like a ball shot out of a canon has been pounded into our heads from our youth. We succumbed to the teaching assault. We did not know any better. I believed it until someone showed me what the scriptures have to say about it–and then in a moment of time I was free from that deception. Are you like that? Where all you need is the scripture to quickly dismantle any lie that you have believed? whether that lie came from Mother, Father, teacher, textbook, dictionary, or preacher? Sun worship is not dead, it has just taken on more sophisticated forms. I’ve seen poetry by one of the early heliocentrists actually magnifying the sun (I read it in “Geocentricity” by Dr. Gerardus Bouw–Dr. Bouw is a former atheist with a Phd in Astronomy). Baal is not dead. He has a new generation of ignorant worshippers. Even the so-called “Christian” textbook publishers magnify heliocentrists like Nicolas Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler but practically ignore Tycho Brahe–the Noble Dane and the “Prince of Astronomers”–his beliefs, his findings. Tycho Brahe created the greatest naked eye astronomical instrumentation known to mankind. He took astronomy to a whole new level. This fact is undisputed. He knew about Copernicus’ proclamations and rejected them on both scriptural and scientific grounds (for the record, the Tychonic model is not the same as the Ptolemaic system). King James delighted in the knowledge he learned in Tycho Brahe’s laboratory.

Unsurprisingly, heliocentrist experiments to prove the motion of the earth have FAILED. These experiments have been deliberately ignored by universities because they support geocentricity.

…But a disciple does not need all this proof. A disciple ONLY needs the scriptures to prove to him what is true. One day I was in an audience when Dr. Bouw pointed out specific scriptures concerning the motion of the sun. That was ALL I needed to hear to change my mind. God showed me all the rest of these facts later on. Many, many things have worked out like that in my life. Are you like that? Where if the scriptures say it, you will believe it even if the world thinks you are some kind of fool? The earth is NOT hurling through “space” reeling to and fro like some drunken man. We’ve been deceived, don’t know what the ecliptic is, cannot properly explain the seasons, and cannot tell the tropic of capricorn from the tropic of cancer because we don’t know what the sun is doing…But in places where real astronomy is necessary–like in aeronautics–the geocentric model is still used.

THE BASIC SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTS

FOR GEOCENTRICITY

Malcolm Bowden

This subject generates far more heat than light in Christian circles. Invariably the reaction is emotional because Christians do not want to be tainted with the labels of “scientific ignoramus” and such like. I here set out the basic arguments that are given more fully in my “True Science Agrees with the Bible” – Appendix 10.

(1) BIBLICAL SUPPORT. There are many references to the sun “going down”, “arising” etc. NOT ONCE does the Bible ever refer to the earth rotating. Those who say that the Bible is only recording the “appearance” of the movement of the sun–

(a) are having to ADD to the most obvious meaning of the understanding of the Bible passage and

(b) are adopting the same position as liberal critics who have tried to destroy the Bible by saying that many of the sayings of Christ were “adapted to the simple understanding and low education of His hearers” and that we are more educated today to correct what he said – or such like. The Bible is true in its normal sensible understanding of its statements. We say sensible because we do not literally interpret what are clearly allegories and metaphors – this is usually used by critics to ridicule Bible believers.

(2) THE SEQUENCE OF CREATION. There is a major Biblical problem facing Christian heliocentrists. The sun is not referred to until Day 4. Most contend that it was created on Day 1 but only became visible on Day 4 so that they can have the earth going round the sun from the very first day of its creation. The problem is that the same word is used for the creation of the sun as for other material or animals in Genesis 1. “Bara” and “Asah” are both used for creation and there is no distinction between creation from nothing and creation from previous created material. Both words are used of Man’s creation. To say that the sun had already been created before day 4 is to twist the scriptures beyond acceptability in this one specific case to save the heliocentric position – and Hebrew scholars agree. If this interpretation is used in this one instance, why is it not used for all the other verses in Genesis. It would make nonsense of the whole record of events.

So the Hebrew insists that the sun was created on Day 4. How then did the earth rotate around a non-existent sun for three days? And when the sun was created on Day 4, did God give the earth a jolt and send it on its circular route around the sun? Surely the most obvious explanation is that the earth was created FIRST of all the universe – as the Bible says – and the universe rotated around it – with all the planets created later on Day 4. How this could take place scientifically we examine below.

(3) SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS. Most scientists know about the Michelson-Morely experiment – that failed to detect any movement of the earth round the sun. This had to be overcome so the Fitzgerald-Lorentz shortening of the apparatus was proposed, and eventually the paradoxical Relativity Theory was invented by Einstein to overcome this problem. However, there are three other experiments that have been deliberately ignored by universities because they support geocentricity –

(a) The Michelson-Gale experiment (Reference – Astrophysical Journal 1925 v 61 pp 140-5 – I forgot to put this reference in my book!) This detected the aether passing the surface of the earth with an accuracy of 2% of the speed of the daily rotation of the earth! Thus, the Michelson-Morely experiment detected no movement of the earth around the sun, yet the Michelson-Gale experiment measured the earth’s rotation (or the aether’s rotation around the earth!) to within 2%! This surely speaks volumes for geocentricity.

(b) “Airey’s failure” (Reference – Proc. Roy. Soc. London v 20 p 35). Telescopes have to be very slightly tilted to get the starlight going down the axis of the tube because of the earth’s “speed around the sun”. Airey filled a telescope with water that greatly slowed down the speed of the light inside the telescope and found that he did not have to change the angle of the telescope. This showed that the starlight was already coming in at the correct angle so that no change was needed. This demonstrated that it was the stars moving relative to a stationary earth and not the fast orbiting earth moving relative to the comparatively stationary stars. If it was the telescope moving he would have had to change the angle.

(c) The Sagnac experiment (Reference – Comptes Rendus 1913 v157 p 708-710 and 1410-3) Sagnac rotated a table complete with light and mirrors with the light being passed in opposite directions around the table between the mirrors. He detected the movement of the table by the movement of the interference fringes on the target where they were recombined. This proved that there IS an aether that the light has to pass through and this completely destroys Einstein’s theory of Relativity that says there is no aether. It is for this reason that this experiment is completely ignored by scientists. More recently Kantor has found the same result with similar apparatus.

All these experiments are never taught at universities, so consequently, scientists, including most Christian creationists, are ignorant of this evidence for geocentricity. Is it any wonder, therefore, that Christian geocentrists find their most vociferous opponents are fellow Christian creationists to whom geocentricity comes as a shock. They do not want to be tarred with such a heretical brush that will only increase the great ridicule they are already receiving for their stance against evolution?

THE ROTATION OF THE UNIVERSE

How can the universe rotate so rapidly without disintegrating? There is growing evidence that the aether has “Planck density” – it is extremely dense and the sun and planets are like corks in very dense water comparatively. This whole universe sweeps round the earth because otherwise it would collapse in on itself due to its density. The mechanics of this system forces the other planets etc. to describe ellipses in their orbit around the sun. Ernst Mach proposed that it is the weight of the stars circling the earth that drags Foucault pendulums around, creates Coriolis forces in the air that give the cyclones to our weather etc. Barbour and Bertotti (Il Nuovo Cimento 32B(1):1-27, 11 March 1977) proved that a hollow sphere (the universe) rotating around a solid sphere inside (the earth) produced exactly the same results of Coriolis forces, dragging of Foucault pendulums etc. that are put forward as “proofs” of heliocentricity! This paper gives several other confirmations of the superiority of the geocentric model.

Thus, there is evidence that the earth is NOT moving around the sun, but either the aether is moving around the earth carrying the planets with it, or the earth is spinning on its axis. The most likely model is that the aether is rotating around the earth as calculations show that if it did not, it would rapidly collapse upon itself. [OUR NOTE: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT MENTION THE FIRMAMENT. GOD SET THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS IN THE FIRMAMENT OF THE HEAVEN. THE FIRMAMENT IS A DIVIDER OF WATERS (SEE DAY TWO IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1). IT IS FIRM. THE AETHER MR. BOWDEN DESCRIBES MAY ACTUALLY BE THE FIRMAMENT.]

Malcolm Bowden.

25.9.99

My books are available from UK Christian bookshops. Distributor Evangelical Press. In the USA, all are available from The Berean Call, Box 7019,Bend, Oregon 97708: Tel; 800 937 6638 FREE

Note: I haven’t read Mr. Bowden’s book [may be here–http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bowdenmalcolm/b4trusc3.htm%5D, but Chris has this to say:

This book is really good and goes into things that we are not normally told. For example the theory of relativity was promoted partly because of the inability of experiments to prove that the earth moved. Bowden also notes that to hold a geocentric position is to open oneself up to abuse even from creationists who will think that you are discrediting the whole argument.

The other thing that he discusses which is fascinating is the idea that the speed of light may not be a constant, but may have slowed down over the last 6000 years or so since creation which would explain a lot of the facts that scientists throw our way.

The following is the e-mail I sent out to my e-mail list. After the responses to this e-mail I came up with a new title for myself, “A fool for Christ’s sake”. I’ll be a fool for truth’s sake. As Isaiah says, truth is fallen in the street. I won’t pass it by, I’ll pick it up and embrace it regardless of the costs.

The following is just a brief portion of an old email–

[Reminder: this list is for Bible-believing Christians.]

Dear Friends:

Greetings in the name of the ONLY wise God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A brother recently wrote asking me about geocentricity. I just learned about it myself last year…

***What is geocentricity?***

Simply put, geocentricity says the earth is the center of the universe, not the sun. The sun revolves around the earth, not the earth around the sun. I know that you did not learn this in public school, but this is what the Bible teaches. [Do you believe the Bible, all of it?] Please read on.

***What do you know about this, Tracy?***

I learned about geocentricity last year at the King James Bible conference. Dr. Gerardus Bouw, a [professed] Bible-believing astronomer [I later read his comments spoken at a Catholic conference where he said that the Roman Catholic Douay Rheims Version of the Bible and the Authorized King James Bible were on the same level] told us attendees all about it. I’m going to break it down for you the way Dr. Bouw broke it down for us… [end of excerpt]

Dear Reader, do you believe EVERYTHING the Bible says?

Assuming the answer to this question is yes, let me ask you some questions from some scriptures–

1. In Joshua 10:13, the children of Israel are avenging themselves on their enemies. The Bible says that THE SUN STOOD STILL and hasted not to GO DOWN about a whole day.

Friends, according to the science text books (including the so-called “Christian” ones, the sun does NOT go down, the earth turns. The Bible says that the sun goes down. Man says the sun does not go down. So now what? What do you believe in? IN YOUR OWN BRAIN, WHICH ONE DO YOU BELIEVE–THE BIBLE OR MAN? NEXT, A YES OR NO QUESTION–DOES THE SUN CIRCUIT THE EARTH, YES OR NO?

2. Isaiah 38:8 says THE SUN RETURNED ten degrees by which degrees it was GONE DOWN.

In this case, did the sun really GO BACK ten degrees or was the shadow on the sun dial just an optical illusion?

3. This one is a showstopper. It comes from Malachi 4 the last chapter of the Old Testament. It would be about 400 years before God spoke to Israel through John the Baptist. Malachi 4:2

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness ARISE with healing in his wings…”

Look at this again. Notice how “Sun” has a capital “S”. This obviously refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. HE DID ARISE with healing in his wings. Notice how it does not say “Son”, it says, “Sun”. If the “sun” DOES NOT rise, does this mean that THE SON did not rise? HE DID RISE AND SO DOES SUN. IT IS NO ILLUSION. IT IS EXACTLY ACCORDING TO WHAT YOUR OWN EYEBALLS SEE EVERYDAY YOU LOOK OUTSIDE.

***What does all this mean?***

It means that once again we’ve been lied to. Ever heard of the “Copernican revolution?” Copernicus is the guy who came up with the “heliocentric” model that we use today–the idea that the earth revolves around the sun.

There is a lot of interesting information concerned with the false science associated with the heliocentric model. But it will have to be reserved for another time, Lord willing.

In the mean time you can check out http://www.biblicalastronomer.org. Dr. Bouw who uses a modified Tychonic model to explain how the solar system works.

Just like with evolution, there are many things that cannot be explained with the heliocentric model. I’ll warn you that this area of astronomy can get quite technical and mathematical. I’m no expert…

I recently heard someone say, “Science blew away western religion.” [When people say things like this they are oftentimes talking about heliocentricism and evolution.] This is how many look at the Copernican revolution false science with it’s heliocentric model (not to mention Darwinian evolution). This is how the Encyclopedia Americana looks at it too (emphases ours)–

“This sharp separation between heaven and earth was basic in the view of the universe that was accepted by Copernicus’ contemporaries. Copernicus comprehended the TRUE nature of the earth. He fully understood that it is a planet revolving about the sun, in the company of other planets. Therefore, like its fellow planets, it too is a heavenly body. Since the earth itself is in the heavens, the contrast between heaven and earth VANISHED, being REPLACED BY THE MODERN CONCEPT OF SPACE.”

What does Genesis 1:1 say? In the beginning God created the HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. The encyclopedia says this distinction VANISHED with Copernicus. See what I mean?

The Encyclopedia Americana goes on to say in no uncertain terms that geocentric model was an error. In other words, the Bible is in error. They are the ones in error because they are lying against the Bible. [Note: THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH ALSO SHOWS THAT HEIGHT AND DEPTH ARE A CREATED THING WHICH CAN BE FURTHER SEEN IN THE SCRIPTURES WHERE THEY SAY THINGS LIKE HEAVEN FOR HEIGHT AND EARTH FOR DEPTH.]

My friends, I know this is a radical concept but don’t believe everything science tells you. They make a liar out of God! With the Copernican revolution all of a sudden not only did the Bible lose its authority in science but in morals and other areas as well. It was, and is, looked upon as unreliable.

I am looking at a magazine ad right now (a free magazine from the grocery store with recipes). It has on it, a picture of the solar system with the caption, “The Geocentric System” (earth at the center). It says,

“Five hundred years ago, the sun was thought to revolve around the earth. People DID NOT KNOW then what we know now. Truths change.”

No they don’t. TRUTH NEVER CHANGES. Truth is absolute. God knew exactly what he was saying when he told us the sun arises and goes down, he made it. This ad was by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. In this ad, they say [ that God’s word is the product of ignorant men–that is a lie. People who believe their lies are the ones that are ignorant]. The Lord gave me this ad maybe one or two days after that brother asked me about geocentricity.

There was a gentleman named Sir Fred Hoyle. He was knighted for his cosmological and astronomical prowess. He said this–

“We know that the difference between a heliocentric theory and a geocentric theory is one of relative motion only, and that such a difference has NO physical significance.”

The geocentric model is not unscientific, it is correct. Unsurprisingly, [it] explains many of the phenomena that heliocentricists can’t figure out.

Here are dozens of verses that say that the sun moves. Do you [really] believe the Bible?

Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was GOING DOWN… 15:17 …the sun WENT DOWN… 19:23 The sun was RISEN UPON THE EARTH… 28:11 …the sun was SET… 32:31 …the sun ROSE upon him

Exodus 22:3 If the sun be RISEN upon him… 22:26 …the sun goeth DOWN:

Leviticus 22:7 And when the sun is DOWN…

Numbers 2:3 And on the east side toward the RISING of the sun

Deuteronomy 11:30 …by the way where the sun goeth DOWN 23:11 …when the sun is DOWN… 24:13 …when the sun GOETH DOWN… 24:15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go DOWN upon it…

Joshua 8:29 …as soon as the sun was DOWN… 10:13 And the sun STOOD STILL, and the moon stayed…So the sun STOOD STILL in the midst of heaven, and HASTED NOT TO GO DOWN about a whole day.

Judges 5:31 …but let them that love him be as the sun when he GOETH FORTH in his might. 8:13 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was UP, 9:33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is UP.. 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun WENT DOWN… 19:14 …the sun went down upon them

2 Samuel 2:24 …the sun WENT DOWN… 3:35 …till the sun be DOWN. 23:4 …when the SUN RISETH…

2 Chronicles 18:34 the time of the sun GOING DOWN he died.

Psalms 50:1 …RISING of the sun unto the GOING DOWN thereof. 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his GOING DOWN. 104:22 The sun ARISETH… 113:3 From the RISING of the sun unto THE GOING DOWN of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.

Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun also ARISETH, and the sun GOETH DOWN, and HASTETH to his place where he AROSE.

Isaiah 38:8 …So the sun RETURNED ten degrees, by which degrees it was GONE DOWN. 41:25 from the RISING of the sun 60:20 Thy sun shall no more GO DOWN; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself…

Jeremiah 15:9 her sun is GONE DOWN…

Daniel 6:14 …he laboured till the GOING DOWN of the sun to deliver him.

Amos 8:9 I will cause the sun TO GO DOWN at noon…

Jonah 4:8 And it came to pass, when the sun did ARISE…

Micah 3:6 the sun shall GO DOWN over the prophets…

Nahum 3:17 …when the sun ARISETH…

Habakkuk 3:11 The sun and moon STOOD STILL in their habitation…

Malachi 1:11 For from the RISING of the sun even unto the GOING DOWN of the same 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness ARISE

Matthew 5:45 …he maketh his sun to RISE…

Mark 1:32 And at even, when the sun did SET…

Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was SETTING…

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun GO DOWN upon your wrath:

James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner RISEN…