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Geocentricity  

Geocentric Model

Geocentrism is the belief that the earth is stationed inflexible at the center of the universe. Modern physicists refer to the geocentric perspective as Machian, after the famous physicist Ernst Mach. The idea of geocentrism was thought abandoned when the majority of scientists gave support for the heliocentric model, which states that our planet is part of a solar system that is itself part of a larger galaxy.

Geocentric theorists use the Biblical theme of an earth-centered creation for substantiation, and Biblical references that some believe imply the earth does not move. Some ardent geocentrists do not believe the earth is orbiting the sun, but instead uphold a modified version of Tycho Brahe's model of the solar system where the sun is instead orbiting the earth. (see: The Association for Biblical Astronomy)

Biblical References - Earth Does Not Move:

  • 1 Chronicles 16:30: " Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.
  • Psalm 93:1 "The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.
  • Psalm 96:10: Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously...."
     

  • Psalm 19: "He set the tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it."

    Psalm 93: "Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm, thy throne firm from of old."

Many creationists, hold strong reservations about geocentricity, or to the other extreme, simply class it as disproved or irrelevant.

A different interpretation of the related Biblical verses above may allow for a heliocentric perspective. In each of the following references, the word "moved" is translated from the Hebrew word spelt "Mem", "Waw/Vav", "Tet" which is transliterated "MWT" or "mot", with a long "o" as in "vote" (Strong's Ref. # 4131). According to Strong it means: "to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall". Having properly defined the word in use, it is clear the passages are simply saying that the earth's place has been fixed or secured by God so it can not be altered.

It is important to note that many geocentrists believe in a non-orbiting and non-moving earth, not just a universe-centered earth. Several pieces of evidence have been introduced to challenge this view.

  • Foucault's pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the earth; without such rotation there is no reason for the pendulum to rotate its plane of swing.
  • A non-rotating earth would require the outer planets and the stars to be moving at excessive (translight?) speeds. Measurements of relative motion between the earth and the nearer planets indicate that the other planets are not moving fast enough for the earth to be stationary.
  • Differences in escape velocity at the poles vs the equator wouldn't exist on a non-rotating planet. Similarly, satellites in geostationary orbit would be motionless over a non-rotating planet, and would simply fall down.
  • The Coriolis effect would not exist on a stationary earth.
  • Earthquakes, including those induced by placing explosives in geological fault-lines, can produce measurable changes in the earth's rotation. If the earth is in fact stationary, this would mean that events on earth can instantaneously affect the motions of stars many many light-years away.
  • The orbit of the earth around the sun is used as a baseline for measuring distance to stars using the parallax method - if the earth was stationary this ought not to be possible.
  • The relative frequency of shooting stars before/after midnight indicates that the earth is both rotating and moving through space.
  • The red shift measured in stars' spectra changes in an annual cycle; if the earth is not circling the sun, then stars must be constantly accelerating/decelerating in something akin to a 'Mexican wave'.

The solar system creates necessary movement, which is required to make day/night and seasonal patterns. While the Earth is clearly in motion around the Sun, and our solar system in movement within the Milky Way galaxy, simply put, geocentrism is the belief in a universe-centered world. Evidence, such as quantized redshift, offers strong support that the Milky Way exists at the center of the universe.

It is also important to remember that all observed movement can be considered relative, as such this debate may be more philosophical and metaphysical than scientific.

Geocentricity from Creationists

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