lpetrich

How is it with those who imagine that there are antipodes opposite to our footsteps? Do they say anything to the purpose? Or is there any one so senseless as to believe that there are men whose footsteps are higher than their heads? or that the things which with us are in a recumbent position, with them hang in an inverted direction? that the crops and trees grow downwards? that the rains, and snow, and hail fall upwards to the earth? And does any one wonder that hanging gardens are mentioned among the seven wonders of the world, when philosophers make hanging fields, and seas, and cities, and mountains? The origin of this error must also be set forth by us. For they are always deceived in the same manner. For when they have assumed anything false in the commencement of their investigations, led by the resemblance of the truth, they necessarily fall into those things which are its consequences. Thus they fall into many ridiculous things; because those things which are in agreement with false things, must themselves be false. But since they placed confidence in the first, they do not consider the character of those things which follow, but defend them in every way; whereas they ought to judge from those which follow, whether the first are true or false.

Source: the early theologian Lactantius (~260 CE - ~330 CE): his book "Divine Institutes", book 3, "On the False Wisdom of the Philosophers", chapter 24, "On the Antipodes, the Heaven, and the Stars"

Arken

Oh come on... there are people who still don't believe the earth is flat? Next you'll be telling us that there are people who still think the earth moves around the sun!

Nothing will stop these nuts.

Elvithriel

Does this depress anyone else? 1700 years since that was written and people still worship their ignorance.