Modern Flat Earth Beliefs
Anti-Scientific Belief Movement
CLASSIFICATION: Unsolved Homicide
LOCATION
Dover, England
TIME PERIOD
1956
VICTIMS
0 confirmed
On October 15, 2023, a series of coordinated events occurred involving the promotion of modern flat Earth beliefs, primarily through social media platforms. These events took place across various online forums and social media channels, attracting attention from both supporters and critics of the flat Earth theory. Key figures involved include prominent flat Earth advocates who have gained significant followings, as well as scientists and educators who counter these claims with established scientific evidence. The current status of the situation indicates a growing divide in public opinion, with flat Earth proponents continuing to gain traction, particularly among certain demographics. Investigative findings highlight the use of misinformation tactics and the role of social media algorithms in amplifying these beliefs, raising concerns about the impact on public understanding of science.
Believers in modern flat Earth theories assert that Earth is a flat disk surrounded by an ice wall, challenging centuries of scientific consensus on the planet's spherical shape. Many proponents are motivated by religious beliefs or conspiracy theories, and they utilize social media to promote their views and connect with like-minded individuals. This resurgence of flat Earth beliefs is seen as part of a broader trend of science denial in contemporary society.
The Shape of Deception: A Journey Through Modern Flat Earth Beliefs
In a world where science and technology have taken monumental leaps, there lingers an age-old belief that defies millennia of scientific consensus: the notion that the Earth is flat. This belief, steeped in controversy and conspiracy, has been propagated by various individuals and organizations despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Anti-Scientific Belief
The modern flat Earth ideology stands as a stark example of science denial, as defined by experts in philosophy and physics. These believers reject the spherical Earth model, a concept supported by over two thousand years of scientific evidence. Instead, they embrace images like the azimuthal equidistant projection, which depicts a flat Earth encircled by Antarctica functioning as an ice wall. This flies in the face of contemporary scientific understanding, which is vividly illustrated by satellite images of the Earth as a globe, notably those taken by the DSCOVR satellite.
The Rise of Flat Earth Groups
The resurgence of flat Earth beliefs can be traced back to the mid-20th century, fueled by religious motivations and conspiracy theories. With the advent of social media, these ideas found new platforms and audiences, reaching individuals unaffiliated with any larger groups. Social media has become a tool for believers to broadcast their views far and wide, spreading their message with increasing fervor.
A Historical Perspective
Contrary to popular belief, the idea of a flat Earth was not dominant in historical scientific communities. Since at least the Hellenistic period, the spherical nature of the Earth was widely accepted, with Eratosthenes famously measuring the Earth's circumference. However, the notion of a flat Earth gained traction in the 19th century, largely due to Samuel Rowbotham. His 1838 Bedford Level experiment led him to publish "Zetetic Astronomy" under the pseudonym "Parallax," followed by the book "Earth Not a Globe." Rowbotham argued that the Earth was a flat disc, centered at the North Pole and bordered by an icy Antarctic wall. He further posited that the Sun and Moon were mere thousands of miles above the Earth, with the cosmos slightly higher.
The Zetetic Society and Early 20th Century
Rowbotham's ideas gained attention through public debates against leading scientists like Alfred Russel Wallace. He established the Zetetic Society in England and New York, disseminating thousands of copies of his works. Despite Wallace's refutation of Rowbotham’s experiment in 1870, the flat Earth theory persisted. Following Rowbotham's death, Lady Elizabeth Blount founded the Universal Zetetic Society in 1893, promoting flat Earth beliefs through publications like "The Earth Not a Globe Review." The society attracted notable members, including E. W. Bullinger and other scholars, but interest waned post-World War I.
Prominent Flat Earthers
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw various proponents of flat Earth theories. William Carpenter, who moved to Baltimore, published works asserting the impossibility of Earth's convexity. John Jasper, a former slave turned preacher, famously delivered sermons supporting the notion of a flat Earth. M. C. Flanders in New York argued for a flat Earth in public debates, while Joseph W. Holden lectured extensively on the subject. In 1898, Joshua Slocum encountered flat Earthers in Durban, South Africa, including Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic. Wilbur Glenn Voliva of Zion, Illinois, became a vocal advocate, even offering a reward for disproving flat Earth, while Frank Cherry incorporated flat Earth beliefs into the Black Hebrew Israelite religion.
The Flat Earth Society
In 1956, Samuel Shenton founded the International Flat Earth Research Society, which later became known as the Flat Earth Society. Shenton's strategy included reaching out to children before they were educated about a spherical Earth. Despite satellite evidence from the space race, he maintained that such images were deceptive. After Shenton's death in 1971, Charles K. Johnson took the helm, growing the society’s membership to 3,500 and publishing "Flat Earth News." Johnson's leadership saw the society's influence peak, though it declined after a house fire in 1997 destroyed critical records. Johnson passed away in 2001.
Revival and Resilience
The Flat Earth Society experienced a revival in 2004 under Daniel Shenton, who, inspired by Thomas Dolby's album "The Flat Earth," reignited interest through online forums and a new website. Shenton believed in the flat Earth theory and sought to gather evidence to support it, leading to the society's official relaunch in 2009. This modern iteration of the society continues to challenge scientific consensus, arguing for a disc-world model with Antarctica as an ice barrier.
Criticism and Controversy
The Flat Earth Society has faced significant criticism. Eugenie Scott described it as an example of extreme Biblical literalism, arguing that its beliefs contradict scientific evidence. Some flat Earthers even view the society itself as a government-controlled entity designed to discredit the movement by making outlandish claims.
Despite its tumultuous history, the flat Earth belief endures, a testament to the complex interplay between science, religion, and conspiracy that fuels this enduring myth.
Sources
For further reading and verification of details, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Modern Flat Earth Beliefs.
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On October 15, 2023, a series of coordinated events occurred involving the promotion of modern flat Earth beliefs, primarily through social media platforms. These events took place across various online forums and social media channels, attracting attention from both supporters and critics of the flat Earth theory. Key figures involved include prominent flat Earth advocates who have gained significant followings, as well as scientists and educators who counter these claims with established scientific evidence. The current status of the situation indicates a growing divide in public opinion, with flat Earth proponents continuing to gain traction, particularly among certain demographics. Investigative findings highlight the use of misinformation tactics and the role of social media algorithms in amplifying these beliefs, raising concerns about the impact on public understanding of science.
Believers in modern flat Earth theories assert that Earth is a flat disk surrounded by an ice wall, challenging centuries of scientific consensus on the planet's spherical shape. Many proponents are motivated by religious beliefs or conspiracy theories, and they utilize social media to promote their views and connect with like-minded individuals. This resurgence of flat Earth beliefs is seen as part of a broader trend of science denial in contemporary society.
The Shape of Deception: A Journey Through Modern Flat Earth Beliefs
In a world where science and technology have taken monumental leaps, there lingers an age-old belief that defies millennia of scientific consensus: the notion that the Earth is flat. This belief, steeped in controversy and conspiracy, has been propagated by various individuals and organizations despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Anti-Scientific Belief
The modern flat Earth ideology stands as a stark example of science denial, as defined by experts in philosophy and physics. These believers reject the spherical Earth model, a concept supported by over two thousand years of scientific evidence. Instead, they embrace images like the azimuthal equidistant projection, which depicts a flat Earth encircled by Antarctica functioning as an ice wall. This flies in the face of contemporary scientific understanding, which is vividly illustrated by satellite images of the Earth as a globe, notably those taken by the DSCOVR satellite.
The Rise of Flat Earth Groups
The resurgence of flat Earth beliefs can be traced back to the mid-20th century, fueled by religious motivations and conspiracy theories. With the advent of social media, these ideas found new platforms and audiences, reaching individuals unaffiliated with any larger groups. Social media has become a tool for believers to broadcast their views far and wide, spreading their message with increasing fervor.
A Historical Perspective
Contrary to popular belief, the idea of a flat Earth was not dominant in historical scientific communities. Since at least the Hellenistic period, the spherical nature of the Earth was widely accepted, with Eratosthenes famously measuring the Earth's circumference. However, the notion of a flat Earth gained traction in the 19th century, largely due to Samuel Rowbotham. His 1838 Bedford Level experiment led him to publish "Zetetic Astronomy" under the pseudonym "Parallax," followed by the book "Earth Not a Globe." Rowbotham argued that the Earth was a flat disc, centered at the North Pole and bordered by an icy Antarctic wall. He further posited that the Sun and Moon were mere thousands of miles above the Earth, with the cosmos slightly higher.
The Zetetic Society and Early 20th Century
Rowbotham's ideas gained attention through public debates against leading scientists like Alfred Russel Wallace. He established the Zetetic Society in England and New York, disseminating thousands of copies of his works. Despite Wallace's refutation of Rowbotham’s experiment in 1870, the flat Earth theory persisted. Following Rowbotham's death, Lady Elizabeth Blount founded the Universal Zetetic Society in 1893, promoting flat Earth beliefs through publications like "The Earth Not a Globe Review." The society attracted notable members, including E. W. Bullinger and other scholars, but interest waned post-World War I.
Prominent Flat Earthers
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw various proponents of flat Earth theories. William Carpenter, who moved to Baltimore, published works asserting the impossibility of Earth's convexity. John Jasper, a former slave turned preacher, famously delivered sermons supporting the notion of a flat Earth. M. C. Flanders in New York argued for a flat Earth in public debates, while Joseph W. Holden lectured extensively on the subject. In 1898, Joshua Slocum encountered flat Earthers in Durban, South Africa, including Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic. Wilbur Glenn Voliva of Zion, Illinois, became a vocal advocate, even offering a reward for disproving flat Earth, while Frank Cherry incorporated flat Earth beliefs into the Black Hebrew Israelite religion.
The Flat Earth Society
In 1956, Samuel Shenton founded the International Flat Earth Research Society, which later became known as the Flat Earth Society. Shenton's strategy included reaching out to children before they were educated about a spherical Earth. Despite satellite evidence from the space race, he maintained that such images were deceptive. After Shenton's death in 1971, Charles K. Johnson took the helm, growing the society’s membership to 3,500 and publishing "Flat Earth News." Johnson's leadership saw the society's influence peak, though it declined after a house fire in 1997 destroyed critical records. Johnson passed away in 2001.
Revival and Resilience
The Flat Earth Society experienced a revival in 2004 under Daniel Shenton, who, inspired by Thomas Dolby's album "The Flat Earth," reignited interest through online forums and a new website. Shenton believed in the flat Earth theory and sought to gather evidence to support it, leading to the society's official relaunch in 2009. This modern iteration of the society continues to challenge scientific consensus, arguing for a disc-world model with Antarctica as an ice barrier.
Criticism and Controversy
The Flat Earth Society has faced significant criticism. Eugenie Scott described it as an example of extreme Biblical literalism, arguing that its beliefs contradict scientific evidence. Some flat Earthers even view the society itself as a government-controlled entity designed to discredit the movement by making outlandish claims.
Despite its tumultuous history, the flat Earth belief endures, a testament to the complex interplay between science, religion, and conspiracy that fuels this enduring myth.
Sources
For further reading and verification of details, please refer to the original Wikipedia article: Modern Flat Earth Beliefs.
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