Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I hope I haven't asked this before. I quickly looked through my previous questions, but I couldn't find the answer.
In the following sentence, which is grammatically correct (or are both grammatically acceptable)?

During the Middle Ages, they didn’t believe that the earth [goes/went] round the sun.

In Practical English Usage (Michael Swan), I found:
After reporting past verbs, we usually change the original tenses even if the things the original speaker said are still true.

In The Teacher's Grammar of English (Ron Cowan), I found:
Backshifting is merely optional if the statement expresses something thought to be a general truth. Example:
Torrecelli concluded that the atmosphere is (OR was) a sea of air pressing down on the surface of the earth.

Thanks a lot.

[edwardcatflap]

I think you've answered the question yourself. They're both acceptable

[The Cosmic Hum]

[raewon]

Thank you very much for both replies.

The Cosmic Hum, you were able to shed light on the reason I asked this question in the first place. As edwardcatflap wrote, I had kind of answered the question in my original post. So why ask the question? Because to my ear, "went" is the only one that sounds "natural." Now I guess I know why.

Thanks to both of you.