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GALILEO, Galilei (1564-1642):
Italian ASTRONOMER whose theories and personality brought him into conflict with the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. In the nineteenth century he became the popular, mythic, rationalist hero who was seen as a MARTYR for SCIENCE against the dogmatism of RELIGION. In reality he went out of his way to provoke the Church and was as dogmatic and intolerant as his opponents.
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