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Newton's Heretical Beliefs

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Sir Isaac Newton, born on Christmas Day 1642, hardly needs an introduction. Physicist, mathematician, philosopher; the man is easily one of the most influential scientists of all time. However what made Newton really unique among the Scientific Revolution’s pantheon of figureheads is his contributions to theology. He stood out as a thorn in the side of the local orthodox Churches of the time by having unorthodox, heretical beliefs in regards to Christianity. Yet at the same time occasionally he would use religious thought to support his work. He was also a rarity in the sense that the scientist-philosopher also dove into the art of biblical interpretation, something only the Church was really allowed to do. The topic of Newton and his heretical ideologies is very popular amongst modern day historians because he flawlessly intertwines his religious beliefs in with his writings.
Although born into an Anglican family, Newton held beliefs that, had it been made public, would not have been considered orthodox by mainstream Christianity; in recent times he has been described as a heretic . The main root of his unorthodoxy lay …show more content…
Leading scientists such as Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote articles about this exact topic. In the favorite of his works, the Principa, Tyson concludes after reading it several times over that Newton believed that God must be the reason for the perfection in the solar system, even though the physics of it all, with the knowledge of the time, should say otherwise. “His equations indicated that the planets should long ago have either fallen into the Sun or flown the coop—leaving the Sun, in either case, devoid of planets. Yet the solar system, as well as the larger cosmos, appeared to be the very model of order and durability.” This must, in Newton’s mind must only come from an intelligent and powerful Being.” Tyson has acknowledged

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