[DarkSavant]

In his letters and from his correspondents it showed he actually feared the Academic elitists of the day much more than the Church.

As for the intro, it was prudent, as he didn't really have the data necessary to prove beyond a doubt what he said. He made very few actual observations in his lifetime and persued his theory more or less as a hobby.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

" As for the intro, it was prudent, as he didn't really have the data necessary to prove beyond a doubt what he said."

He still shouldn't have had to fear legal reprisals for daring to challenge accepted views, scientific or religious.