[Ellahn]

Had to stop reading at "...largely mythical war between science and religion..."

History, countries, continents were shaped by religion persecuting shit. Paganism was burned at the stake, and herbal medicine in European cultures is almost inexistent when compared to Asian and (Native) American cultures. Religion wages war on everything, which is epitomized by the crusades.

Galileo was persecuted because he voiced uncomfortable truths. Much like Einstein and many others, he wasn't the only one who knew those truths. And much like Einstein, he had the passion and the guts to pursue his path and voice his findings.

This is his merit, and calling it Hyperbolic to recognize the worth of someone risking their life for something shows at the very least a very poor understanding of history.

A good way to criticize history would be to focus on the "History is written by the winners" though.