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"I have no idea if there is a God." So he says, but I don't really feel convinced. I like him but he is so brilliantly marketed, why would he say anything different.
Not sure what you’re puzzled about here. He’s been saying the same thing for years - that he sees no evidence for god. But although he gets called on to answer questions about god pretty frequently, and he answers those questions, I think it’s not really that big a deal for him, his passion is science education for the general public. If you are interested in and at least somewhat knowledgeable about science, Tyson doesn’t care whether you have a religious faith or not.
Not sure what you’re puzzled about here. He’s been saying the same thing for years - that he sees no evidence for god. But although he gets called on to answer questions about god pretty frequently, and he answers those questions, I think it’s not really that big a deal for him, his passion is science education for the general public. If you are interested in and at least somewhat knowledgeable about science, Tyson doesn’t care whether you have a religious faith or not.
Did I indicate that I was puzzled? I find that puzzling.
"I have no idea if there is a God." So he says, but I don't really feel convinced. I like him but he is so brilliantly marketed, why would he say anything different.
Einstein did not believe in the Biblical God and Stephen Hawking was very open in his atheism. It's common among individuals who recognize that the universe apparently works perfectly well for reasons that are entirely natural, to have no belief in the existence of a God.
I guess I posted this, at least in part, because one can never assume one's heroes actually share one's cherished assumptions. Mine, in this case, that men of science are all atheists. Degrasse cops out, in a way, by saying it's not his place to tell others what to believe, though he hedges on the characterization of the universe. But he has a show to promote and books to sell, as well as a very nice job at the Hayden Planetarium, so he's in no position to be as assertive as others might. Look what happened to Russell over his job at the College of the City of New York.
This thing about most scientists being atheists seems to be in dispute. I thought I read (Dawkins?) that the percentage was very small of those who were not. I don't think the Pew Center counts. But Rice University, my alma mater, has a slightly different view:
The study at Rice was funded by Templeton, which is confusing because if I remember Dawkins correctly, they are wholly religiously inclined. I'll have to re-read the Dawkins in light of all this.
Last edited by KaraZetterberg153; 09-19-2018 at 07:38 PM..
I guess I posted this, at least in part, because one can never assume one's heroes actually share one's cherished assumptions. Mine, in this case, that men of science are all atheists. Degrasse cops out, in a way, by saying it's not his place to tell others what to believe, though he hedges on the characterization of the universe. But he has a show to promote and books to sell, as well as a very nice job at the Hayden Planetarium, so he's in no position to be as assertive as others might. Look what happened to Russell over his job at the College of the City of New York.
This thing about most scientists being atheists seems to be in dispute. I thought I read (Dawkins?) that the percentage was very small of those who were not. I don't think the Pew Center counts. But Rice University, my alma mater, has a slightly different view:
The study at Rice was funded by Templeton, which is confusing because if I remember Dawkins correctly, they are wholly religiously inclined. I'll have to re-read the Dawkins in light of all this.
All the geology professors I studied with over five years at the university were Christians who went to church somewhat regularly, and they all taught aspects of evolution.
All the geology professors I studied with over five years at the university were Christians who went to church somewhat regularly, and they all taught aspects of evolution.
Yeah. I'm glad you said that since you're a Science guy. Almost all science people I know, this is natural sciences, engineering, private and public, are religious to one extent or another. Some devoutly so.
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