Galileo’s thoughts about different types of questions

Scientists are interested in questions about how the world works.

Galileo believed that the way he could answer these kinds of questions was to make observations and to do  experiments.

He also believed that it is foolish to look in Scripture (the Bible) to get answers to the types of questions you can investigate using the methods of science.

He said that religious texts present  important ideas – but they are not scientific ideas.

“How do you think about science and religion – are they in conflict in your view?”

Students in Year 8 put this question to the Arhbishop, Dr Williams and here’s what Dr Williams said.