Question

What impact did the Scientific Revolution have on the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

The scientific revolution was the part of the Renaissance, and it is notable for a series of changes in society, education, and knowledge, which resulted in a string of new discoveries and new views on the world. Before the scientific revolution, the Church had the dominance over the learning, dictating who will be able to learn and what; yet, as a result of this period, knowledge and science were more available and widely distributed. Scientists had more democratic ideas about the world and society, which in the end resulted in the more humane views and laws. All of these circumstances weakened the Church and its impact on society.
The discoveries of the revolution questioned some of the preceding pieces of knowledge supported by the Church, most notably the idea that the Sun goes around the Earth. Nicolaus Copernicus was one of the first scientists who proposed heliocentric theory, and people started to realize the Earth revolves around the Sun. This idea challenged religious believes, and the Church was afraid people would lose faith and trust in God. All of this finally resulted in the loss of the Church’s complete dominance and change of some dogmas that were previously preached heavily.
While, of course, people still have faith and believe in God today, these events changed the complete sovereignty that the institution of the Church had previously, as well as some of Christianity's teachings.