Aren't there places in the Gemarah and the Torah's commentators where they seem to contradict science? How should a Jew view these opinions that seem scientificly false? (Can you please give examples of these opinions? I think some are that the Rambam describes stars in a false manner. Also the Gemarah, maybe Rashi, has a discussion on if the earth revolves around the sun or vise-versa...)

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Neither the Bible nor the Talmud are intended to be science books, nor scientific explanations of the universe and its workings, but rather attempts to build a religious/ spiritual worldview and framework. Without minimizing the wisdom of our rabbis and thinkers, we understand that where they do enter the realm of science, they do so with the (limited) knowledge and experience of medieval (or earlier) times.

Hi Aryeh,

Somebody once said, "God spends three hours a day studying the Talmud." It is a man made document and therefore has restrictions, as do the commentaries. So, how about viewing scientifically false opinions as honest attempts to understand the world based on information available at the time?

Our scientific knowledge increases by the day whereas human nature seems to be reasonably constant. Assuming the nature of God is constant too then a scientifically false description of the universe does not necessarily invalidate any spiritual message beneath the words about humans or their relationship with God.

Regards,

Yermi

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Could you be more specific about WHERE the Talmud and other works of Oral and Written Torah "contradict" science -- giving the full quote or, at very least, the volume and page number? As it stands, you appear to be operating out of an assumption rather than evidence. And the answer, "Well everybody KNOWS that the Talmud contradicts science" just doesnt cut it. It's no better than the argument, "Well, everybody KNOWS all Jews are loud and pushy," which many (quite rightly)would consider a form of prejudice rather than fact.