The Church declared that the earth is the central and most important body in the universe; that the sun and moon and stars are tributary to it.

On these points she was worsted by astronomy.

She affirmed that a universal deluge had covered the earth; that the only surviving animals were such as had been saved in an ark.

In this her error was established by geology.

She taught that there was a first man, who, some six or eight thousand years ago, was suddenly created or called into existence in a condition of physical and moral perfection, and from that condition he fell.