Perhaps the most fitting Carl Sagan quote for these times.

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” 

 Yes. it's legit.

I will leave you today with these prophetic words from the great Carl Sagan.

“I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and whats true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.” 

Okay, that's just spooky.

This is why we need more scientists in politics.

They can recognize patterns and predict outcomes that most of us will never see coming.

(Source.)

A little perspective.

My mother spent the night at my house the other night, because she did not want to drive back to Palmer in the dark.

While here she brought up the topic of religion and we had a long talk about my atheism and her very basic brand of faith.

I played for her Professor Neil DeGrasse Tyson's Most Astounding Fact, and explained how understanding that the entire universe, and everything in it, shared the same DNA if you will was both humbling and exhilarating, and how I saw the fables of religion as interfering with our understanding and acceptance of that simply truth.

She seemed to understand but also said that her faith gave her comfort, and she was worried that I would strip her of it just to make an intellectual point.

I said that I had no intention of doing that, and that at her age there was no reason for her to abandon her faith, so long as she was on guard against those who would use it to manipulate her or take advantage of her.

In the end it seemed that she understood me a little bit better, and that I certainly have no intention of doing anything that takes something away which gives her comfort and a sense of peace.

As I come to the end of this post it suddenly dawns on me that what I have written has virtually nothing in common with what is printed on that image up above.

Oh well it's my blog, and if think a story about a conversation with my mother about religion, and a Carl Sagan quote about the insignificance of human conflict are connected in some way, well so be it.

This.

Source

Nicely said.

I found this quote apropos in light of Eric Hovind's assertion that Evolutionists believe that man is nothing more than "bags of molecules."

It is not what gives us life that is so important, but rather what we do with the life that we have been given.

The 25th anniversary of "The Pale Blue Dot."

Courtesy of Penny4NASA:

NASA’s Voyager spacecraft captured one of the most memorable images in the history of space exploration 25 years ago today. 

On Feb. 14, 1990, the Voyager 1 spacecraft was commanded by NASA at the suggestion of Carl Sagan to turn its camera around and take a picture of Earth one last time before it headed on its way out of the solar system. The photo is now widely recognized as the “Pale Blue Dot.”

Actually I'm a day late. The anniversary was yesterday, but I am such a fan of that video and this picture...

 ...that I could not let the anniversary pass without comment.

Personally I think there should be a way to mandate that religious, political, or business leaders be forced to watch that video whenever they begin to get a little too arrogant or feeling self important.

I find it to be quite humbling, and at the same time inspirational.

Someday we will break our bonds to this planet and courageously head off into the vastness of space to forge a new future. I can only imagine the wonders that lay before us which are as yet undiscovered and feel a little jealous that I will not be among those to witness them for the first time.

And 34 years later we are still engaged in meaningless self destruction.

From the first episode of Cosmos, which aired in 1980.

Now in 2014, it's message continues to struggle in finding purchase with a species that seems committed to its own premature extinction.

(Source.)

After a day spent celebrating who we are, and all that we have achieved, perhaps this video will help to humble us again and put everything into perspective.

Though it may be comforting to believe that our mythologies explain everything that we need to know, only a child clings to that misconception for the feeling of safety that it provides.

The rational adult must stand naked in their ignorance before the mysteries that lay ahead, resolved to the fact that though what they learn may frighten and intimidate them, the knowledge will benefit the future of our species and help to ensure its survival.

Truer words were never spoken.

Sunday night's Cosmos finale asks the question in defense of science that the show has been leading up to all season. “What will happen the next time the mob comes?”

Show producer Seth MacFarlane and Neil deGrasse Tyson

Courtesy of the Washington Post:  

“What will happen the next time the mob comes?” Neil deGrasse Tyson asked at the beginning of the finale episode of “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” which finished its meditation on the universe on Fox last night. Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, was referring to the destruction of the ancient Library of Alexandria. 

While “Cosmos” has ranged through scientific history and across the universe, this latest stop in the timeline, like many others Tyson has made during the run of the show, was really about our present moment. 

From its first episode to its last, “Cosmos” has staked out the idea that the pursuit of science can be an act of faith. “The Old Testament Bible comes down to us mostly from the Greek translations made here,” Tyson said last night of the Library of Alexandria, reminding viewers that the secular pursuit of knowledge can have benefits for believers, too. 

He emphasized that his devotion to science had an element of religious awe to it. ”Some of us like it small. And that’s fine. Understandable. But I like it big,” he explained in the conclusion to the episode. “It matters what’s true.” 

The final episode also suggested that science, in its own way, carries fewer risks for those who believe in it than religion does. ”It’s one of the things I love about science,” Tyson said. “We don’t have to pretend we have all the answers.” 

“Cosmos” spent its last episode making clear that scientific thinking faces real threats in the political climate. “Pretending to know everything closes the door to finding out what’s really there,” Tyson told audiences.

I have felt all along that this was the point that the show was trying to make all along.

That science is under constant attack by religious fundamentalists who want to keep the world small, and questions about it kept simplistic, so that curiosity can be placated with simple fables that anesthetize the brain and keep the sheeple content and in line.

However as Professor Tyson pointed out last night, we are still learning new, and complicated things, every day. And when we pretend to have all of the answers we render ourselves intellectual impotent and unable to reach beyond our own comfort zones and into the mysteries that lie beyond.

At the end of the broadcast Cosmos once again played Carl Sagan's famous Pale Blue Dot. To remind the viewers how little we are in the vastness of space, and how large our imaginations must grow in order to someday understand that which puzzles us today.  

Take a moment to watch it for yourself. Believe me it is well worth your time.

The return of Cosmos, last night was phenomenal and sent audiences reeling. Some in awe, and some in fear.

Courtesy of CNN:

 "Cosmos," the new, updated version of Carl Sagan's popular 1980 documentary series exploring the hows, whats and whys of the universe, premiered Sunday night on Fox, the National Geographic Channel and various corporate cousins. 

Its "ship of the imagination" -- a vehicle to take viewers through wonders large and small -- now has a new captain, astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson, but the reaction to the show's debut shows that entertaining, informative science never goes out of style. 

"I'll be eagerly tuning in for future episodes," wrote the Los Angeles Times' Jennifer Ouellette, praising Tyson as "affable" and "engaging" and noting the debut episode's lively use of ideas -- such as the "powers of 10" -- that could turn to cliché in other hands.

I am embarrassed to say that I actually missed the premiere last night (I was instead exercising my guilty pleasure of watching the zombie apocalypse on  the Walking Dead.), however I did catch it today on YouTube which unfortunately for this post has been taken down now.

The show did not shy away from pointing out the negative impact that superstition and religion have had on space exploration and recognizing our rightful place in the universe.

For me that was extremely gratifying, but for others not so much:

Oh yeah this show is going to drive these people out of their ever loving minds!

As I said I cannot show you the whole episode, since Fox had it taken down from You Tube.

However all is not lost as the wonderful introduction done by President Obama IS still available.

Somehow I think that having the President associated with this program did not exactly help with its acceptance among those folks who "cling to their Bibles, and their guns" do you?

Tickets for debate between Bill Nye and Creationist Ken Ham sell out in two minutes.

Courtesy of WKRC Cincinnati:  

A debate between "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and Creation Museum founder Ken Ham sells out in just two minutes. 

Tickets for the event in which Ham and Nye will debate creationism versus evolution went on sale online Monday morning. The debate will take place the night of Tuesday, February 4th at the museum in Petersburg. 

Last year in an online video that's drawn more than six million views, Nye said teaching creationism is bad for children. 

Two minutes? Damn!

You know I asked myself who would be more likely to be in a rush to buy up these tickets, religious folks hoping to see the guy with the bow tie have to admit that the Bible is right, or science geeks hoping to see Nye embarrass Ken Ham about his lack of scientific knowledge?

My money is on the science geeks and non-religious.

By the way here is the video referenced in the article where Nye states that Creationism is not appropriate for children.
Yeah I think Ken Ham better bring his big boy pants. Because he is clearly outmatched.

17 years ago a science icon died. But before he did he provided a warning that resonates today more than ever.

The interview was with Charlie Rose from 1996.

Just take a moment to listen to his warning, and then think just how prescient it was considering the blatant attacks on education and science that we are witnessing today.

We need more Carl Sagan's today to protect our children from the never ending attempts to keep them ignorant, ill prepared, and easily manipulated by those who use fear and superstition to take advantage of them.

Humility.

I always find it laughable when religious people refer to Atheists as arrogant.

We are anything but. We openly admit how little we know and how willing we are to have our minds changed by new information.

All that we know for certain is that the answer to the great mysteries of life were absolutely not answered thousands of years ago by primitive desert dwellers.

Final thought for the night.

I will never forget when I first became fascinated with science. I remember marveling at the world that microscopes and telescopes revealed, while devouring books on animals and animal behaviors just as soon as I checked them out from the school library.

Accepting the simple explanation for complex things was never attractive to me. Instead I wanted to know WHY, and HOW, and WHEN, even if I did not fully understand the answers.

A mind that is always wondering is a mind that is always improving. However a mind that has been tranquilized with soothing mythological explanations is a mind that is being denied its true destiny.

Openly atheist lawmaker asked to deliver the opening prayer for the Arizona House of Representatives. Does something awesome instead.

Courtesy of the Phoenix Times:

 An atheist state lawmaker tasked with delivering the opening prayer for this afternoon's session of the House of Representatives asked that people not bow their heads. 

Democratic Representative Juan Mendez, of Tempe, instead spoke about his "secular humanist tradition" and even quoted author Carl Sagan. 

"Most prayers in this room begin with a request to bow your heads," Mendez said. "I would like to ask that you not bow your heads. I would like to ask that you take a moment to look around the room at all of the men and women here, in this moment, sharing together this extraordinary experience of being alive and of dedicating ourselves to working toward improving the lives of the people in our state." 

As you can imagine -- especially now, with Arizona's legislature being controlled by religion-heavy Republicans -- this is probably the first time that an invocation at the legislature took that direction. 

"This is a room in which there are many challenging debates, many moments of tension, of ideological division, of frustration," Mendez said. "But this is also a room where, as my secular humanist tradition stresses, by the very fact of being human, we have much more in common than we have differences. We share the same spectrum of potential for care, for compassion, for fear, for joy, for love. Mendez continued, "Carl Sagan once wrote, 'For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.'"

You know ANYONE who quotes Carl Sagan in lieu of a prayer is my kind of guy.

We started the day with that courageous young lady schooling Wolf Blitzer about assuming a person's religious faith, and now we have this guy!  I have to say I have rarely been more proud to be an Atheist. 

Clearly we are becoming far more comfortable with ourselves in this country, and with more and more young people eschewing the trappings of religion, I think our time is finally here.

Hell you know you have arrived when even the Pope is willing to accept that you are good people.

Personally I see a day when we follow the lead of the gay community and start openly identifying ourselves as nonreligious and demonstrating to the close minded that we are just as ethical, and moral as anybody who identities themselves as religious. In fact, to be honest, we are even more so since we are not bullied into morality through threats of eternal damnation but rather choose our morality through careful examination of the world around us and decide to be good people with our eyes and our minds wide open.

Finally thought of the day.

Ann Druyan talking about love, faith, and the death of her husband, Carl Sagan:

"When my husband died, because he was so famous and known for not being a believer, many people would come up to me-it still sometimes happens-and ask me if Carl changed at the end and converted to a belief in an afterlife. They also frequently ask me if I think I will see him again. 

Carl faced his death with unflagging courage and never sought refuge in illusions. The tragedy was that we knew we would never see each other again. I don't ever expect to be reunited with Carl. But, the great thing is that when we were together, for nearly twenty years, we lived with a vivid appreciation of how brief and precious life is. We never trivialized the meaning of death by pretending it was anything other than a final parting. Every single moment that we were alive and we were together was miraculous-not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were beneficiaries of chance. . . . That pure chance could be so generous and so kind. . . . That we could find each other, as Carl wrote so beautifully in Cosmos, you know, in the vastness of space and the immensity of time. . . . That we could be together for twenty years. That is something which sustains me and it’s much more meaningful. . . . 

The way he treated me and the way I treated him, the way we took care of each other and our family, while he lived. That is so much more important than the idea I will see him someday. I don't think I'll ever see Carl again. But I saw him. We saw each other. We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful."

(Source.)

I really need to aspire to be more like Carl Sagan.

In my defense I am much, much better at not picking fights and trashing people's belief systems.

When I was younger I once sent a young newly "reborn" Christian college student fleeing from my dorm room in tears and sent a Catholic priest on a three day drinking binge.

However I do recognize that I can sometimes be more than just a little condescending in my discussions about religion and that it may turn some people off from hearing the truth.

Wait, did I just do it again?

The great Carl Sagan completely debunks Creationism using something they call "science."

I love it!

My favorite part is that he explains the facts so eloquently and casually that it leaves little room for disagreement.

Well, for the rational among us anyway.

Two extremes in child education. Carl Sagan expanding young minds in a science class and the folks at Jesus Camp closing them off in order to protect their efforts with indoctrination.

I don't think the difference could be more stark.

One teaching philosophy welcomes new information and embraces the opportunity to have our minds expanded or changed, the other treats knowledge like an enemy and prepares the students to resist and even attack anything which might shake their faith that all of their questions have already been answered.