Flat Earth Society

“Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.” [Matthew 16:1]

Have you ever heard of the Flat Earth Society? Even after the launch of thousands of satellites, dozens of manned spaceflights – including multiple trips to the moon, and thousands of ships that have sailed around the globe – there are still educated people who believe the earth is flat. Despite all of the evidence to the contrary, they have their heads firmly planted in the sand and refuse to accept the earth is a sphere.

The International Flat Earth Society, begun in 1956, even has an official logo, showing our planet as flat as a dinner plate. Yes, they’re serious. The world model used by the society holds that people live on a disc with the North Pole at the center and a 150-foot high wall of ice at the outer edge. They use the United Nations symbol as evidence for their views. The numbers of members have grown and waned over the years under different presidents of the society.

In one newsletter the aim of the society is stated: “To carefully observe, think freely, rediscover forgotten fact and oppose theoretical dogmatic assumptions. To help establish the United States… of the world on this flat earth. Replace the science religion with SANITY.” Much of the society’s early literature focused on interpreting the Bible literally to show the earth is flat. Some headlines from the 70s in the newsletter include: “Whole World Deceived… Except the Very Elect,” “Australia Not Down Under,” “The Earth Has No Motion,” and “Science Insults Your Intelligence.”

The society also took the position that the Apollo Moon landings were a hoax, staged by Hollywood and based on a script by Arthur C. Clarke. Someone once said, “A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.” So, how much evidence does it take to change a person’s mind?

Jesus was regularly confronted with leaders in His day asking Him to prove Himself. “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You’.” (Matthew 12:38). Christ had already shown many signs and miracles. The Scriptures clearly validated His divinity. The bottom line was that nothing would convince these skeptics. They had already made up their minds.