Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!dciem!mmt
From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.misc
Subject: Re: Earth Centered Universe
Message-ID: <249@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Jul-83 16:50:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: dciem.249
Posted: Sun Jul 17 16:50:44 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Jul-83 20:52:53 EDT
References: cvl.493
Lines: 11

What could a "stationary earth" mean in relativistic terms? To have a
"stationary earth" means that there must be an absolute frame of reference
with respect to which the earth is stationary. Sure the earth is stationary
with respect to me (when I am pursuing my favourite pastime). The rest
of the universe isn't moving faster than the speed of light with respect
to me, though. It is moving faster than the speed of light with respect
to some mythical Newtonian absolute frame of reference connected to me,
but who cares? The objects in that universe do not change their motions
relative to one another or with respect to potential other observers
just because I happen to take myself as a reference observer for now,
and the earth is stationary in my frame.