In 1695 Galileo wrote a letter to Grand Duchess Cristina. This letter discussed the relationship between the traditional biblical beliefs of the time (the foundation on which their society was built), scientific discoveries, and their correlation with each other. The purpose of the letter was to inform that the scientific discoveries made were not hearsay or contradictory to the Bible, rather they were natural laws, which could coincide with, and not be opposed to, beliefs based on Scripture. In the Letter to Grand Duchess Christina, Galileo implies that science is the means by which God intended humanity to understand scriptural truths. This belief can be applied to the present day by finding balance and, as a result, enabling a balanced life. In his Letter to Grand Duchess Christina, Galileo challenged the widely accepted religious beliefs of the time, arguing that the conflict lies in their interpretation, not the context. In Galileo's eyes, science was an extremely useful tool that could and should be used to interpret the Scriptures. She argued that “the intention of the Holy Spirit is to teach us how to go to heaven, not how to go to heaven” (Grand Duchess). The purpose of science was not to counter what the Bible teaches; rather its purpose was to help explain the teachings of the Scriptures. Furthermore, it was "prudent to state that the Holy Bible can never tell a lie, whenever its true meaning is understood" (Grand Duchess). However, due to the terminology in which the Bible was presented, the perception of what Scripture defines as truth was distorted. The Bible was written so that the common man could understand it and follow its commandments. People also showed greater int...... middle of paper ......and therefore strengthened their arguments/claims. It is through science and its use that Galileo claimed that the truths of science could be found and better understood. the Scriptures. If science were used correctly, as a tool to support claims, instead of blindly accepting claims made by authoritative figures, Galileo claimed that the truths mentioned in the Bible could be realized; use your sense of reason. Religious people can find comfort through science, and scientists can find reason for their science through religion. This is evident in the fact that Galileo was a scientist but also had strongly held scriptural beliefs. Through a sense of balance he was able to use his religion to advance his scientific discoveries and his science to justify his religion. With the right balance between the two you will be able to live an enlightened and enriched life.