SOURCE: "Galileo: Physics and Astronomy," in The Galileo Connection: Resolving Conflicts between Science and the Bible, Intervarsity Press, 1986, pp. 81-102.

In the following excerpt, Hummel outlines Galileo's early years, and describes the steps in Galileo's own particular scientific method.

Renaissance Italy was a collection of states with a wide variety of governmental structures. In one the people might hold power; another would have a hereditary ruler. Such diversity fostered the idea that there could be more than one way to govern. Differences of opinion on economic and social issues flourished. In that relatively open society, ready in many areas to consider new ideas, Galileo Galilei began his education.

In two arenas, however, the strong hand of authority maintained a firm grip. The Roman Catholic Church had a monopoly on religious life, and Aristotelian philosophy dominated science in the universities. Yet in Galileo's time both institutions found themselves on...