Christians Case

GmailCalendarDocumentsPhotosReaderWebmoreSitesChristians challenged Greek and Roman science on so many levels. Their reaction

carried a curiosity that was not seen throughout that period by other faiths. Christians generally

embraced Greek and Roman science but it appeared to be a rollercoaster ride of acceptance and

rejection on many of the conclusions brought forth. One subject was that of cosmology that

seemed to be gaining enormous attention in the twelfth and thirteenth century. The argument

centered on the sphericity of the earth, its circumference, climatic zones, and its division into

continents. Although Aristotle and Plato disagreed on some points, for the most part they did

agree on the key questions. On the subject of The Heaven for instance, Aristotle rejected the

notion of the possibility of place, space, or vacuum outside the world. Christian would accept

this argument but would also challenge this notion later.

Christian's reaction to medicine was shaky at best. They reacted too many of its beliefs

in a precarious way. On one hand they thought that it would have much to offer in when it

came to the ability to heal. On the other hand they believed that it was a punishment for a

sin. The Roman Empire disintegrated because of social and economic turmoil, so that didn't

affect the craft of healing. In the textbook it says that Christian leaders looked favorably on

the Greco Roman medical tradition, viewing it as a divine gift, an aspect of divine providence,

the use of which was legitimate and perhaps even obligatory. Even writer Tertullian (ca.155-

ca230) revealed his appreciation of the values of Greco-Roman medicine (Linberg 1992, p

321). The Christians on the other hand were in favor of miracles, but questioned the power

of healing. As the textbook states, Churchman neither simply repudiated nor simply adopted

secular medicine, but put it to use; and to use it was to adapt it to new circumstances, thereby

subtly (or, in some respected, radically) altering its character (Linberg 1992,