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Sir [[Isaac Newton]] was an English scientist who lived from 1634 to 1727. He was a physicist, astronomer, mathematician, alchemist and natural philosopher. He is probably best known for his Theory of Universal Gravitation and his Laws of Motion. His contributions also include inventing the reflecting telescope, developing calculus (with before [[Gottfried Leibniz]]), and numerous other contributions to his fields of study.
Newton was the first to demonstrate that the same laws that govern the motion of celestial objects also govern the motion of things on Earth. Newton's contributions greatly advanced the scientific revolution. His work also advanced the concept of heliocentrism (the belief that the Sun is at the centre of the Solar System and/or Universe), with his works prompting the lifting of a ban on heliocentric books by the Catholic Church.
Newton was a devout Christian who said his discoveries were inspired by God.<ref>http://www.biblecodedigest.com/page.php/74</ref>. He devoted more time to the study of Scripture than to science, and more time in the pursuit of alchemy than to either. He said of himself, "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by those who were inspired. I study the Bible daily."<ref>Tiner, J.H. (1975). Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist and Teacher. Milford, Michigan, U.S.: Mott Media.</ref> Newton's beliefs differed in an heretical manner from that of the Catholic Anglican Church however; he did not believe Trinitarianism (one God in three persons). The majority opinion holds that Newton was a unitarian (one God) and an Arian (Jesus was divine but did not exist eternally and was created by God at some point before coming to Earth). Both are commonly regarded by conservative Christians as the foulest of heresies, and Newton's adoption of them illustrates the folly of adopting personal religious beliefs rather than submitting to lawful authority. This is illustrated by Newton in his theological notebooks by noting that "worshiping Christ as God" among a list of "Idolatria".<ref>Westfall, Richard S. The Life of Isaac Newton, Cambridge U Press, 1993, ISBN 0-521-47737-9, p. 124</ref>
Newton believed that God's creation of the universe was self evident given it's its grandeur.<ref>Webb, R.K. ed. Knud Haakonssen. “The emergence of Rational Dissent.” Enlightenment and Religion: Rational Dissent in eighteenth-century Britain. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1996. p19.</ref> He also warned against using his laws to replace the creator. He said, "Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done."<ref>Tiner, J.H. (1975). Isaac Newton: Inventor, Scientist and Teacher. Milford, Michigan, U.S.: Mott Media.</ref>
Newton is often seen as one of the greatest scientific people in all history due to his contributions, which inspired [[Kant]] to create the philosophical concepts of the [[categorical imperative]] and the [[synthetic a priori]].
Newton died in March of 1727 in London, England. He died a [[virgin]] after a lifetime as a [[confirmed bachelor]], and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
