Copernican theory is a part of a group of cosmological theories, that is theories that describe the structure of the world in the largest scale. 

Protestant churches (especially the Lutheran and Calvinist) strongly rejected Copernicus’ theory in the cosmological sphere as contrary to both Holy Scripture and Aristotelian thought. 

The astronomical theory formulated by Copernicus that referred to the heliocentric cosmology negated earlier, time-honoured astronomical geocentric theories. This caused a strong reaction within astronomy (mathematics), physics (natural philosophy) and cosmology, which had already appeared during the lifetime of Copernicus in the 16th century, and stopped as late as in our times.

Copernicus’ work had a significant impact not only on the spheres of strictly understood mathematic and physical sciences. With all its power it also had a major influence on the newly founded field of modern humanist philosophy.