Flat Earther who wanted to be ‘first woman on the moon’ explains why the globe is a 'lie'

A self-described Flat Earther has shared what it was that convinced her the Earth is not a globe.

Shelley Lewis lives in California where she works as a teacher, educating kids on the topic of science, while also balancing her career with producing videos to promote the Flat Earth theory.

“I don't really call it a belief anymore, because I have so much evidence that it's become more of a scientific fact," Shelley told UNILAD.

Shelley Lewis is a self-described Flat Earther (Shelley Lewis)

She added: “There's something going on. Either we live in, you know, a simulation, the Earth's flat, but whatever we've been told is definitely questionable.”

Before she became a Flat Earther Shelley had ambitions to become an astronaut, getting into the prestigious West Point Military academy.

After serving, she now divides her time between producing films about the Flat Earth, writing vegan cookbooks, and teaching.

Shelley teaches physics at a private school, though she stressed that she doesn't teach the Flat Earth theory to her students, but works from 'the textbook'.

“I wanted to be an astronaut," she said. "My dream was to be the first woman to walk the Moon.

“I thought people who believed the Earth was flat were ruining science.”

Needless to say things have now changed, with Shelley saying that a pilot friend introduced her to the idea of a flat Earth.

An illustration of a Flat Earth, with the edge surrounded by a wall of ice (martinwimmer / Getty)

After conducting her own research, Shelley was convinced, saying: "I started interviewing pilots and engineers and ballistics weaponry experts, and all of this was pointing to a flat Earth."

Describing how the Flat Earth theory works, she said: “If you imagine a disc, or even a clock, it's a contained system. So when people think, oh, you know the Flat Earthers, they're going to fall off the edge, no.

"It could either be an infinite plane, or it could be a contained system with a dome.”

She explained that this rests on top of pillars, with the 'self-contained' system surrounded by water, as well as 'the throne room of God, The River of Life'.

Shelley added that she is a 'Biblical' Flat Earther but is 'still science based'.

Flat Earth theory has been described as a form of science denialism, with its advocates maintaining belief in the theory despite overwhelming evidence and thousands of years of scientific consensus.

Shelley acknowledged the consensus, saying: “You're going against science, you're going against the big, you know, Newton and Kepler and all these big scientists, you're basically questioning all these years."

'Earthrise', taken from lunar orbit by astronaut William Alison Anders on December 24 1968 (NASA/Bill Anders)

Nonetheless, she doesn't let this deter her, adding: "But isn't that what science is? Aren't we allowed to question and when we find out new information, that is the scientific method to actually go and investigate and observe?"

As for the impact that her beliefs have had on her life more generally, Shelley said that her parents love her 'no matter what', but one of her in-laws 'wants nothing to do with' her.

Describing people's reactions to her being a Flat Earther, she said: “There were a lot of raised eyebrows, like, what the hell? Is she OK? You know, do we need to have a welfare check on this girl?"

She went on to say that she thinks people are becoming more 'open' about a Flat Earth, saying: "It's still a fringe topic, but there are a lot of people who are questioning it as well."

She added: "I think people are more open to it, but it is controversial.”

The first people to figure out that the Earth is a globe were the Ancient Greeks.

Philosopher Eratosthenes calculated the Earth’s circumference with remarkable accuracy, a feat that was later repeated by Indian mathematician Aryabhata.

The International Space Station silhouetted over Earth (Getty Images)

Despite popular modern beliefs about the Middle Ages, it was still widely accepted in this period that the Earth is round, with the oldest surviving globe dating from 1492.

The theory of a Flat Earth became more popular in the 19th century, and persisted into the 20th when the International Flat Earth Society was founded in 1956.

You would think that the space race and Moon landings would have finally put the issue to bed, but the theory is nothing if not phenomenally stubborn.

When he was shown a photograph of the Earth from space, International Flat Earth Society founder Samuel Shenton remarked: “It’s easy to see how a photo like this could fool the untrained eye.”

Since then there have been many more images of Earth from space, as well as technology such as GPS satellites, broadcasters, and aircraft navigation.

Despite all of this, in the age of social media, the number of Flat Earthers has continued to grow.

UNILAD's new Stripped Back series is released from September 23 and focuses on conspiracy theories, featuring interviews with believers, experts and others impacted by the claims.