Italian scientist and scholar Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) made pioneering observations which created the foundation for modern physics and astronomy. But, he did so at great personal cost. When he openly began to express his support of the Copernican theory that the earth and planets revolved around the sun, he challenged the doctrine of Aristotle and the established order set by the Roman Catholic Church. His expressions of his beliefs led him to being twice accused of heresy by the Church. And, the last nine years of his life were spent under house arrest. THE GALILEI FILES: SCIENCE AND FAITH explains the background to the condemnation and rehabilitation of the scientist according to the Roman Catholic Church. The film also discusses the relationship between science and theology from today's perspective, based on the case of Galileo. To help tell the story, recreations, graphic illustrations, and captivating imagery are combined with the expert commentary from the fields of science and religion. Of particular interest is the perspective provided by professor Hubert Wolf, who, in 1992 was the first scientist allowed to look at church inquisition documents held at Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany. Where are the fault lines between the worlds of science and religion? Do they still exist? Which areas of research today have the potential to provoke as radical a change in our view of the world as Galilei's findings in his time?
