Why an Atheist Thinks the Shroud of Turin is the Real Deal

Defining Moments and Heroes

Historians, as historian will do, sometimes look for a defining moment and decisive changes in the rhythm of progress. The big changes were 1) from pondering to experimenting, 2) the use of mathematics as expression of reality and 3) the new paradigm called the scientific method.

And as historians will also do, they look for heroes, someone who can perhaps be called the father of science. Take your pick:  Thales of Miletus (c.624–c.546 B.C.) who first postulated natural explanation for such godlike phenomena such as lightning and earthquakes. Alhazen, whose Book of Optics, translated by dutiful monks from Arabic to Latin and widely distributed throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, detailed his experiments and his scientific method.  Any one of the trio of famous Franciscan friars, Roger Bacon (c. 1214–1294), Duns Scotus (c. 1266–1308) and William of Ockham (c. 1288-1348). Copernicus, Kepler or Galileo. And, of course, Isaac Newton (1643-1727).