In what he dubbed “The Final Experiment,” Colorado Pastor Will Duffy ventured to Antarctica to film 24 straight hours of sunlight. His goal? Prove that our planet is round, something scientists have known for centuries. Although the mission converted at least one so-called flat-Earther, others are still doubtful—and some are villainizing the pastor.
Duffy, 41, is the volunteer leader of Agape Kingdom Fellowship, a Denver-area non-denominational church. After learning about and researching the flat-Earth view, he decided to try to disprove it. Last month Duffy traveled to Antarctica, which plays a key role in the debate. He took along four flat-Earthers and four “globers,” or round-planet adherents.
Using satellite communication and camera equipment, the group recorded 24 straight hours of sunlight and livestreamed it to more than 4,000 people. “It was midnight in Antarctica, and the sun was still up,” said Duffy. “So at that point, the debate’s over.” Or so he thought.
Pastor Will Duffy Changed the Mind of One Flat-Earther
The evidence from the southernmost continent swayed at least one flat-Earther. Jeran Campanella, who produces the YouTube channel Jeranism, said he’s stepping away from flat-Earth beliefs after the Antarctica trip. “Even if I don’t feel like I’m on a sphere, even if I don’t feel like I’m upside down, even if I don’t feel like I’m flying through space, the flat Earth doesn’t work for me,” Campanella said. “I couldn’t go on [with that belief] once I knew it was not the case.”
Another flat-Earther, Austin Whitsitt, admitted “we were wrong” about 24-hour daylight but said he isn’t totally convinced the planet is round.
Other flat-Earthers aren’t conceding anything. They’ve been scrutinizing Duffy’s footage, picking apart camera angles, footprints, and shadows. Some conspiracy theorists say the pastor filmed the 24-hour daylight in a studio—or even at the North Pole in June.
Alabama Pastor Dean Odle said the devil might have played a role. In a Dec. 30 sermon, the flat-Earth proponent said, “You don’t think Satan would go, ‘OK boys, y’all head on down there to Antarctica. I’ll be there on this day. I’ll clear the weather up for you, and I’ll be the angelic light in the sky?’”
According to Pastor Duffy, truth played a central role in his experiment. “When people use the Bible to say something is scientific, it makes Christianity look foolish,” he said. “Christianity is about pursuing the truth.”
Flat-Earthers Are Villainizing Pastor Will Duffy
Will Duffy’s efforts have led to online vitriol and personal attacks. Some flat-Earthers have accused the pastor of stealing from his church to pay for the trip, which cost $35,000 per person. Duffy said the church is so small it doesn’t have that type of money. He covered portions of the expedition, he said, while others chipped in and used crowdfunding.