Thread: An Address to the Flat Earth Society

I can appreciate the existence of a pseudoscience forum. It’ll allow us to explain why scientists know why they believe what they believe and allows people to explore such notions. Unfortunately I know of no instance where such conversations have ever changed anybody’s mind.

This is an address to the folks from the Flat Earth Society because if there is one pseudoscience that really bugs me it’s that one. I believe that it originated because the Bible refers to God being up] in heaven and a spherical earth does not have a unique direction called up.They fit all the ear markings of a pseudoscience. Namely they won’t tolerate dissention nor will they listen to people explain why their wrong. You can’t joint them and then prove why they’re wrong or you’ll get thrown out.

There a few simple arguments to demonstrate that the world simply cannot be flat

(1) The constellations visible by observers in the northern hemisphere are different to those in the southern with a smooth transition between the two as people travel from south to north or vice versa. On the other hand people living on a flat earth will see only one set of constellations. People wouldn’t be able to navigate the earth by assuming it was flat when it was actually a sphere

(2) The metrical relations on the flat earth are different from those on a spherical earth. People who travel along the curve of parallel latitude at 45 degrees North will cover the same distance as a person who travels around a curve of parallel latitude of 45 degrees South. Doing this on a flat earth will give a different result proving that the earth is not what they claim. To extend this more generally we know that measurements between distances on the earth can be used to discover the geometry and topology of the earth. Those measurements prove that the surface of the earth is the surface of a spherical. Airlines use this fact all the time, otherwise they’d be unable to navigate properly.

(3) The flat earth model cannot explain the seasons.

(4) The flat earth model cannot explain the operation of the GPS system nor can it explain any satellite motion.

And the list goes on. I’ve created this thread hopefully for easy reference when the topic comes up, as I’m sure it must from time to time.

I doubt that the Bible was the first place the flat earth idea occurred. More likely, whoever wrote the Bible thought the earth was flat. It looks rather flat.

There's a flat earth society, but they are not serious. They're just having fun with you. Don't be so gullible.

Henry Reich, creator of Minutephysics, has made a short video in which he lists ten reasons why we know that the Earth is not flat:
TOP 10 REASONS Why We Know the Earth is Round - YouTube

Originally Posted by Harold14370

I doubt that the Bible was the first place the flat earth idea occurred. More likely, whoever wrote the Bible thought the earth was flat. It looks rather flat.

There's a flat earth society, but they are not serious. They're just having fun with you. Don't be so gullible.

Would you care to explain why you've assumed that I'm as gullible as you think I am? I know they think that way as much as I can know many historical facts, i.e. I read about it. I've not only seen these people on TV make these silly areguments but it was required reading in my Philosophy of Science class as an undergraduate. My professor told us a about them and we dsicussed it in class.

See "Top 10 reasons why we know the earth is round" - Debunked at "TOP 10 REASONS Why We Know the Earth is Round" Debunked

They actually believe that the earth is flat. Hoever if you can provide a solid argument to the contrary I'll consider it. Will you do the same? Their website is here - The Flat Earth Society

Regarding their beliefs comming from the Bible it states so quite clearly in their website at
http://theflatearthsociety.org/cms/i...d=48&Itemid=65

The modern age of the Flat Earth Society dates back to the early 1800s, when it was founded by Samuel Birley Rowbotham, an English inventor. Samuel Rowbotham's Flat Earth views were based largely on literal interpretation of Bible passages.

(underscore mine)

Originally Posted by PhyMan

Originally Posted by Harold14370

I doubt that the Bible was the first place the flat earth idea occurred. More likely, whoever wrote the Bible thought the earth was flat. It looks rather flat.

There's a flat earth society, but they are not serious. They're just having fun with you. Don't be so gullible.

Would you care to explain why you've assumed that I'm as gullible as you think I am? I know they think that way as much as I can know many historical facts, i.e. I read about it. I've not only seen these people on TV make these silly areguments but it was required reading in my Philosophy of Science class as an undergraduate. My professor told us a about them and we dsicussed it in class.

See "Top 10 reasons why we know the earth is round" - Debunked at "TOP 10 REASONS Why We Know the Earth is Round" Debunked

They actually believe that the earth is flat. Hoever if you can provide a solid argument to the contrary I'll consider it. Will you do the same? Their website is here - The Flat Earth Society

Regarding their beliefs comming from the Bible it states so quite clearly in their website at
About the Flat Earth Society

The modern age of the Flat Earth Society dates back to the early 1800s, when it was founded by Samuel Birley Rowbotham, an English inventor. Samuel Rowbotham's Flat Earth views were based largely on literal interpretation of Bible passages.

(underscore mine)

Now I'm thinking you're in on it. You're the straight man, right?

The Bible refers to the "The Sphere of the Earth" as it "Hangs on nothing". The reference of "up" probably refers to the vertical direction required to look into the sky "heaven".

Originally Posted by shlunka

The Bible refers to the "The Sphere of the Earth" as it "Hangs on nothing". The reference of "up" probably refers to the vertical direction required to look into the sky "heaven".

Because, of course, the writers knew the Earth was round.

Originally Posted by Harold14370

Now I'm thinking you're in on it. You're the straight man, right?

Nope. Not my style. I'm just anti-pseudoscience, that's all.