In the first place the model did not diminish the earthly reflection of power of God but increased the scope of his greatness, by greatly expanding his realm and his web of balanced creation. As is stated in the text there is a clear sense that "all truth is God's truth," and that therefore the science that had emerged demonstrated his power and ability, rather than diminishing the importance of the human race in his scheme. (p. 49)
Neither Copernicus of Kepler was outside the Christian faith, as they had both been accepted members, student and teachers of religiously sponsored schools. The major work of Copernicus, on the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres was printed at the hand of a Bishop and dedicated to the Pope. The schools themselves redirected much learning back toward faith but also constituted a standard for revolutionary thought. Copernicus did not set out to challenge the concepts of faith, but instead set out to scientifically explain how God had developed the universe and Kepler followed by adding credence and computation to Copernican models. The works of Copernicus and later Kepler in fact follow in the line of reasoning associated with the Process Theology, in that they demonstrate that God works within the context of the natural processes, and therefore the center of his creation is logical and the discovery of it is not contrary to faith. (pp.49-50)
The belief that placed the earth at the center of the universe was not steeped in doctrine but was instead the development of tradition. ((pp. 6-7) the science of the assumption, Ptolemy was not contrary to faith or tradition, as it was...
Copernicus simply added an additional tradition to the concepts rather than the doctrine of creation. Where it made sense in the past to believe, through perspective of one with limited scope that the earth was the center of the universe it now, made sense for the Sun to be the center of the universe and/or the planets, including earth to rotate around a center in a connected patterns. Additionally, the older belief was not based on scripture but on the work of another astronomer, and philosopher Ptolemy.
The scientific revolution that altered the manner in which we see ourselves in the natural world, began in many ways with Copernicus, who furthered an idea, against tradition but still very much in line with a non-confrontational development of science and religion meeting. Copernicus was aware of the challenges that would be given his theory and tried almost without ceasing to build a holistic position for his opinion that would not insult the faith or challenge the social structure. Copernicus was educated through the faith, as was almost any literate soul in his era, he dedicated his work to the Pope and contracted its printing through a Bishop. There is no sense, whatever that Copernicus was acting in any way other than as a Shepard of science. He was aware of these observations and spoke to them with math and observation, even when they were contrary to his faith.
References.
Science and Religion
Hanman, J. (2007), Deconstructing Copernicus Retreived March 18, 2008 at http://jameshannam.com/copernicus.htm.
