Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was an astronomer who believed God created order in the universe to understand and put to good use. So, what’s the problem? The leading scholars of his day were convinced the earth was the center of the solar system–that the earth was stationary, and the sun and other planets revolved around it. Johannes was one of the few astronomers who embraced the Copernican view that the earth and other planets orbited around the sun. It was considered radical, even heretical, to hold such a divergent view. Also, in his day, there was clear delineation between astronomy and astrology. Johannes had little use for astrology. In his words, “Astrology is the foolish little daughter to mother astronomy.”
Johannes’ original plan was to become a Lutheran pastor, but he found his true calling in his pioneering work as an astronomer. He wrote, “I had the intention of being a theologian…but now I sense how God is, by my endeavors, also glorified in astronomy, for ‘the heavens declare the glory of God.'” His three principles of planetary motion, called Kepler’s Laws, added credence to the Copernican view. He also speculated that there must be some force created by the sun causing the motion of the planets, Isaac Newton utilized his work by identifying gravity as the force Kepler imagined.
Johannes was frequently quoted as saying in his study of God’s universe, “O Lord, I am thinking thy thoughts after thee.” When a pastor asked him at the end of his life about his hope of salvation, he answered, “I believe only and alone in the merit of Jesus Christ. In him is all refuge and solace.”
His prayer is spoken like a true astronomer: