Ever pondered the Earth's true shape? Is it a sphere or flat? You're certainly not alone. An increasing number of people are firm believers in the flat Earth theory, offering some compelling arguments. In this episode of our podcast, we'll delve deep into the flat Earth theory, examining all the evidence both for and against it. Whether you're a proponent or a skeptic, brace yourself for an intriguing journey into this peculiar worldview. Things are about to get unconventional.

The flat Earth theory posits that our planet is a flat disc or plane, although it has been scientifically debunked. Many ancient civilizations subscribed to this theory, and we'll explore its historical origins.

Let's commence with a historical overview of the flat Earth theory. In the early beliefs of Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures, the world was envisioned as a floating disc in an ocean. The Israelites similarly imagined the Earth as a disc surrounded by water, with a firmament above, separating the Earth from the heavens. In ancient Greece, notable philosophers like Thales, Leucippus, and Democritus also believed in a flat Earth. Ancient Germanic and Norse societies visualized a flat Earth encircled by an ocean, often with a central world tree (Yggdrasil) or pillar (Irminsul). In ancient China, there was a prevalent belief in a flat and square Earth, contrasting with a round heavens. This view persisted until European astronomy's introduction in the 17th century when Chinese astronomers described the heavens as spherical. Despite this, the spherical Earth idea gained traction in the early Christian Church, but the Quran's mention of the Earth being "spread out" led some Muslims to reject this idea. Nevertheless, by the 10th century, some Muslim traditionalists began to accept the idea of a spherical world.

The modern flat Earth movement traces its origins to the 19th century when English writer Samuel Rowbotham proposed that the Earth was a flat disc centered at the North Pole, enclosed by a wall of ice along the southern edge. Rowbotham believed the Sun and Moon were positioned 3,000 miles above the Earth and that the cosmos was situated at 3,100 miles. He expressed these ideas in his book "Earth Not a Globe" and a leaflet called "The Inconsistency of Modern Astronomy and its Opposition to the Scriptures," arguing that the Bible, supported by human perception, endorsed the notion of a flat and immobile Earth. Rowbotham's ideas had limited acceptance but influenced a small group of followers who formed Zetetic Societies in New England and New York in 1883. After his death, Lady Elizabeth Blount established the Universal Zetetic Society in 1893, focused on confirming the Holy Scriptures through scientific investigation. The Universal Zetetic Society published a magazine, "The Earth Not a Globe Review," which persisted until the early 20th century. In 1956, Samuel Shenton founded the International Flat Earth Research Society (IFERS), also known as the Flat Earth Society, to promote flat Earth beliefs and contest the prevailing scientific consensus. IFERS gained momentum during the space race and claimed the moon landing was a hoax, which furthered its popularity. Shenton died in 1971, but IFERS continued under Charles K. Johnson, an American airplane mechanic. Johnson believed in a flat Earth with a 3,000-mile circumference, where the Sun and Moon orbited at 3,000 miles above the Earth's surface. IFERS had its peak membership in the 1980s but has since declined, though the internet and social media have brought about a resurgence in flat Earth interest.

Flat Earthers contend that the Earth is a flat disk with the North Pole at its center and a 150-foot-high ice wall, Antarctica, forming its outer perimeter. They believe the Sun and Moon are much smaller than they appear, orbiting the Earth at a height of 3,000 miles.

Flat Earth Models: Two primary models are proposed by flat Earthers: one with an enclosed atmosphere resembling a snow globe, and the other without enclosure but featuring an ice wall surrounding the Earth.

Flat Earthers assert that day and night cycles are caused by the Sun moving in circles around the North Pole, which they describe as a spotlight illuminating the Earth's surface.

The flat Earth community often contests the credibility of space agencies, particularly NASA, believing they are involved in a government conspiracy to conceal the truth about the Earth's shape.

However, the most significant challenge to the flat Earth theory is its inability to explain how gravity would operate on a flat Earth. It suggests that gravity would pull straight down, but there is no supporting evidence. Scientific understanding of gravity indicates it would pull toward the center of the disk, leading to a variety of unusual consequences, such as variable air pressure, horizontal plant growth, and a centralized ocean. Moreover, the flat Earth theory cannot account for the Earth's magnetic field, the behavior of tectonic plates, or the Southern Lights.

The rotation of the Earth, supported by the curvature seen at elevated vantage points, disproves the claim that the Earth is flat. The concept of an ice wall surrounding the Earth is debunked by satellite imagery. Gravity pulls objects toward the Earth's center, regardless of their location. The appearance of a solar eclipse is not evidence of a flat Earth, and the absence of stars in some space photos is due to camera settings, not green screens.

The atmospheric conditions and ocean currents are a consequence of the Earth's rotation, debunking the flat Earth's assertions about planes flying in straight and level paths. While Flat-Earthers challenge traditional scientific explanations for moon phases, planetary scientists assert that the phenomenon results from the motion of the sun, moon, and Earth in space.

Finally, the flat Earth theory's challenge lies in its inability to explain various physical phenomena, including gravity, atmospheric pressure, and magnetism.

Fun Facts: The belief that the Earth was flat until a few hundred years ago is a misconception. The notion of a spherical Earth has been widely accepted in the Western world since at least 323 BC-31 BCE. The resurgence of the flat Earth conspiracy only occurred in the 19th century. Polling data from Datafolha indicates that 7% of the Brazilian population, approximately 11 million people, believe in a flat Earth. A YouGov poll found that two-thirds of Americans aged 18-24 believe in a spherical Earth.

Questions:

1. Do you believe in a spherical Earth or a flat Earth?

2. What do you think drives people to embrace the flat Earth theory?

3. Do you believe flat Earthers are open to changing their viewpoints?

4. How would you engage with a staunch flat Earther who adamantly argues against the spherical Earth?