But that's a myth.
Early church fathers and theologians actually formed the largest group of individuals who advanced and supported the spherical earth view. And Christian scholars are credited with some of the best explanations of the spherical earth in ancient and Middle Age literature. In fact, early European missionaries spread the spherical earth view along with the Gospel.
This myth about flat-earth Christians originated when Washington Irving wrote The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. He mixed fact with fiction and created a story about foolish flat-earth Christians opposing Columbus’ voyages. And somehow this fiction became “fact,” and a popular way to discredit Christianity.
But we can rejoice even in this: “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you” (Matthew 5:11 NLT).
Check out this week's creative post with directions for Making a Memory Collage.
Good point!! Similarly, missionaries to Hawaii were given a bad reputation because of James Michener's book, Hawaii. Years later, early missionaries to Hawaii still were discredited in their godly intentions. We are to be of no-reputation, like Christ. Oh to be more like Christ. This isn't easy!!
ReplyDeleteHi Gail - it is so true that those who can't explain our joy and way of living seek to discredit us. Great scripture to encourage. BTW, happy anniversary sweet lady
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
It amazes me that critics would reach that far back in history to find criticisms of Christians. Now that I read your post, I remember learning that a great motivator for Columbus was to spread the gospel. Great verse to include! Thanks for all your efforts here!
ReplyDelete"He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end." ~ JOB 26:10
ReplyDeleteThe word "compassed" (Hebrew khug) means to be made spherical (referring to the shape of the earth). You will find similar verses in Proverbs 8:27 and Isaiah 40:22 where the same word is used with the same connotation.
~ Henry M. Morris
Hi there, I just wanted to share the above information from a favorite book of mine, THE REMARKABLE RECORD OF JOB showing the insinuation that the earth was round. The author Dr. Morris shows how much science was already perfectly understood and recorded by Gods inspiration. GOD already had the answers in the Scriptures to many scientific questions/observations/facts. Many of which are in the Book of Job. What an awesome Creator we have! And what a confirmation that Christians have had the truth from the very beginning ~ in the Bible!
Thanks for adding these additional thoughts and references. Bless you, Gail
DeleteTwo thumbs up! I didn't know this. Do you have any reading recommendations for this subject? I love Biblical Science and History. Thanks for sharing at Mom's Library!
ReplyDelete