A voice for reason

johnson1010 · Mon Jul 12, 2010 12:45 am

Carl Sagan was good at explaining scientific subjects in a way that evoked that feeling of awe that i get when i look at the stars. The same feeling, i'm sure, that a religious person gets when they think about the afterlife. This ability to appeal to a feeling of spirituality seems inclusive, somehow. It seems to show a path to togetherness and belonging that atheism is criticized for lacking.

We need more Carl Sagans.

If you enjoy the videos below, i also recommend "The Cosmos", from which some of this content has originated.

Consider again, the pale blue dot. A followup.

http://www.wimp.com/consideragain/

Nova, on PBS is somewhat of a modern descendant, featuring Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Michio Kaku.

Emperorbjt · Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:29 pm

I wholeheartedly agree. I have read every mainstream book that Sagan wrote and have watched the Cosmos several times. His ideas and presentation did very much lead one to a sense of awe at the wonders of nature and the universe.

I would also add that many of his writings contained insightful philosophies regarding that nature of science, reason, faith , etc. Fans of Richard Dawkins's 'The God Delusion" might want to give Sagan's "The Demon - Haunted World" a try. He explores similar issues and reaches similar conclusions, but what in my opinion is a more eloquent argument.

GaryG48 · Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:16 pm


	Emperorbjt wrote: I would also add that many of his writings contained insightful philosophies regarding that nature of science, reason, faith , etc. Fans of Richard Dawkins's 'The God Delusion" might want to give Sagan's "The Demon - Haunted World" a try. He explores similar issues and reaches similar conclusions, but what in my opinion is a more eloquent argument.

I second that opinion. Sagan gets to the same place without all the gnashing of teeth.

Robert Tulip · Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:24 am

Carl Sagan smoked weed

Interbane · Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:05 am

I have in the past as well Robert. I used to sit around with a notepad when I was high. Most ideas are wacky, but some are gems. They have to be edited when sober though. I haven't done that in over a decade, as a disclaimer.

johnson1010 · Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:40 pm

Never done any drugs at all, personally, but i don't demonize weed the way we are told we should.

Marijuana is a lot less dangerous than alcohol.

johnson1010 · Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:28 pm

Neil DeGrasse Tyson speaks on this issue i addressed earlier in the thread. That feeling of wonder i get thinking about the universe may just share gray matter with the believer who feels exalted when contemplating god.

There is a feeling of awe that is usually called spirituality that a good understanding of our place in the universe can illicit. A feeling that has bound people together under many banners throughout history.

Science can do that too, if we can reach people.

http://www.wimp.com/bestsermon/

johnson1010 · Thu Nov 04, 2010 4:05 pm

"I stepped out of a supernova. And so did you."

http://www.wimp.com/comprehenduniverse/

johnson1010 · Thu Jan 13, 2011 4:45 pm

http://www.wimp.com/unofficialnasa/

Carl Sagan, slinging the verbage.

johnson1010 · Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:35 pm

Carl Sagan,

Life looks for life.

http://www.wimp.com/lifelooks/

stahrwe · Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:56 pm


	Robert Tulip wrote: Carl Sagan smoked weed

Explains a lot.

johnson1010 · Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:57 pm

http://www.wimp.com/goingto/

RIchard Dawkins on the unliklihood of life.

johnson1010 · Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:41 pm

Compiled from another thread:

Mr. Tyson speaks about god, science and the threshold of knowledge.

a snippet:


	Quote: I simply go with what works. And what works is the healthy skepticism embodied in scientific method. Believe me, if the Bible had ever been shown to be a rich source of scientific answers and understanding, we would be mining it daily for cosmic discovery. Yet my vocabulary of scientific inspiration strongly overlaps with that of religious enthusiasts. I, like Ptolemy, am humbled in the presence of our clockwork universe. When I am on the cosmic frontier, and I touch the laws of physics with my pen, or when I look upon the endless sky from an observatory on a mountaintop, I well up with an admiration for its splendor. But I do so knowing and accepting that if I propose a God beyond that horizon, one who graces our valley of collective ignorance, the day will come when our sphere of knowledge will have grown so large that I will have no need of that hypothesis.

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/

UPDATE:

DOH! Those specific pages were moved. The above link will take you to his home page though. Look around. Good stuff to be had.

Dexter · Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:00 pm

I like this bit:


	Quote: Believe me, if the Bible had ever been shown to be a rich source of scientific answers and understanding, we would be mining it daily for cosmic discovery.

God doesn't seem too good at science, or history... or even realizing there is life outside of the ancient Middle East.

johnson1010 · Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:06 am

Sagan on the Seti program.

http://www.wimp.com/saganseries/

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