They were not.
Earth centered and flat earth ideas were around because of popular misconception and religious beliefs, not because of science. The ancient Greeks knew the earth was a sphere and proposed a heliocentric model of the solar system.
This is true but until someone can demonstrate that there are circumstances that should affect our conclusions about our observations, we will continue to accept the current paradigm. You are essentially saying that maybe we are wrong so we should give up.
Aristotle believed in the geocentric universe and was enforced by the Roman Catholic church, as was the flat earth theory. I know that many believed otherwise but my point is that throughout history, wrong ideas have been promoted and protected by those who have that power.
I have always heard "everything is moving away from everything else", so why do galaxies cluster?
If matter from the BB, 14b years ago, expanded at the speed of light, the radius of the universe would be 14b light years but it is not, the radius of the universe is said to be 46b light years. In other words, if I take off and travel at light speed for 14b years, how far did I travel? 14b light years. 46÷14=3.29 But , of course, the universe is NOT expanding at the speed of light,so it has to be somewhat less than 14b light years in radius.
The only thing slower to change than politicians is scientists.
The Big Bang theory originated in 1927 with Georges Lematre, a Catholic monk. 2 years later, Edwin Hubble announced his "red shift" findings, which supported the BB theory thus the church's beliefs.
Someone has already demonstrated that the "red shift" is questionable... see William G. Tifft. Though his idea was controversial, the Astrophysical Journal published his papers and concluded that there were no errors in his findings, yet they could not endorse said findings.
Now, you are playing that game of trying to make me look ridiculous by putting words in my mouth. Show me where I said anyone should give up.
What I am saying is that if scientists were honest, they would investigate alternate theories instead of condemning them. Science is a lot like religion because so much has to be believed without evidence and sometimes in direct conflict with the evidence. Scientists, like many others, develop an interest in the status quo and it is dangerous for their careers to question it. So, just like religion, they will continue on down a road, even if it is the wrong road.
"Occasionally, men stumble over the truth but pick themselves up and rush off as though nothing happened."