Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths about Science and Religion

This landmark volume directly confronts one of the most pervasive misconceptions in intellectual history: the "conflict thesis" which posits that science and religion have always been locked in perpetual warfare. Edited by distinguished historian Ronald L. Numbers and featuring contributions from twenty-five prominent scholars, the book meticulously evaluates twenty-five widely accepted historical myths. Each chapter dismantles a specific misconception—ranging from the assertion that Galileo was physically imprisoned and tortured by the Inquisition, to the false claims that the medieval Church suppressed human anatomy, insisted the Earth was flat, or condemned science as heresy. Through rigorous primary-source documentation, the essays demonstrate that the historical reality was far richer and more nuanced, characterized by instances of fruitful collaboration, patronage, philosophy, and complex institutional negotiation rather than sheer hostility.

It is an essential, eye-opening read for anyone interested in intellectual history, offering a carefully documented counter-narrative to popular historical misconceptions about science and theology.

Ideal for historians, philosophers of science, theologians, students of cultural history, and general readers seeking a balanced, evidence-based understanding of the historical interaction between religious institutions and scientific inquiry.