Why Neil DeGrasse Tyson Should Stick To Science

[Sparko]

Announcer:Welcome to another exciting edition of Cosmos! Now let's dive right into our most intriguing findings as we unlock the mysteries of our multiverse. So without further ado - Sparko, if you will..

Sparko: *Ahem* Yeah well basically all this physical stuff out there *Ahem* God did it.

Announcer: ..And that wraps up another episode! Please join us next week for another exciting edition of Cosmos!

Announcer: So what caused the universe to be here?
Scrawly: Nothing. There was no cause.
Announcer: So how come there is a universe?
Scrawly: dunno. It just appeared out of nothing.
Announcer: nothing? What do you mean?
Scrawly: well some people think it was caused by vacuum fluctuations...
Announcer: Isn't vacuum nothing?
Scrawly: Yes, that is why I said the universe appeared out of nothing.
Announcer: But before the universe was here there wasn't even a vacuum, right? because there was no space, no time, nada.
Scrawly: uh... well, strings! yeah strings did it. or maybe branes.
Announcer: what evidence do we have of these strings or branes?
Scrawly: evidence? how can there be evidence of something outside of the universe that existed before the universe existed? There is no evidence. You just have to have faith and stuff.
Announcer: riiiight. I thought you said there wasn't any cause?
Scrawly: There isn't. I mean.. well... shut up!!!

[TimelessTheist]

Announcer:Welcome to another exciting edition of Cosmos! Now let's dive right into our most intriguing findings as we unlock the mysteries of our multiverse. So without further ado - Sparko, if you will..

Sparko: *Ahem* Yeah well basically all this physical stuff out there *Ahem* God did it.

Announcer: ..And that wraps up another episode! Please join us next week for another exciting edition of Cosmos!

There's no such thing as a "multiverse", bud.

[Sparko]

It would probably be easier to understand if you actually got right what they believe.

I do.

[Carrikature]

Tyson got pwned by philosopher Piligucci here

LostSheep just linked me to it. Well done by Pigliucci, though it applies to way too many scientists. Tyson just happens to be the most visible at the moment.

[Carrikature]

I find it incredible that people can believe the universe popped into existence out of nothing, from nothing and for absolutely no reason or cause, and they have no evidence at all - just theories that can't be tested.


I think it is much harder to believe that then "God did it"

It would probably be easier to understand if you actually got right what they believe.

[LaplacesDemon]

Tyson got pwned by philosopher Piligucci here

[Cerebrum123]

I always thought Carl Sagan's tussle with Apple (over an internal programming code name, no less) made him look bad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I...ith_Carl_Sagan

I liked their response to the "Cease and Desist" order.

[KingsGambit]

I always thought Carl Sagan's tussle with Apple (over an internal programming code name, no less) made him look bad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I...ith_Carl_Sagan

[Scrawly]

I find it incredible that people can believe the universe popped into existence out of nothing, from nothing and for absolutely no reason or cause, and they have no evidence at all - just theories that can't be tested.


I think it is much harder to believe that then "God did it"

Announcer:Welcome to another exciting edition of Cosmos! Now let's dive right into our most intriguing findings as we unlock the mysteries of our multiverse. So without further ado - Sparko, if you will..

Sparko: *Ahem* Yeah well basically all this physical stuff out there *Ahem* God did it.

Announcer: ..And that wraps up another episode! Please join us next week for another exciting edition of Cosmos!

[robrecht]

Don't see a problem with it, other than the ridiculous hair.

Yeah, I always kind of liked him too. I better be careful, 'though, I think this might be the fourth thing we've agreed upon.

[Sparko]

I find it incredible that people can believe the universe popped into existence out of nothing, from nothing and for absolutely no reason or cause, and they have no evidence at all - just theories that can't be tested.


I think it is much harder to believe that then "God did it"

[Apologiaphoenix]

His wife (Ann Druyan), OTOH...

Ron Nash told a story about when Sagan was dying. According to the story, he was part of a big group of astrophysicists online and many of these people were Christians. One of them in the group said "Carl. I hear you have a big test coming up. I hope you pass." The reply came back "I hope I do too. Please pray for me."

It's one of those stories that makes me hold out hope.

[rogue06]

An atheist on Amazon once recommended I read Sagan's "Demon-Haunted World."

I read it and while I disagreed with a lot in it, I found that I liked Sagan's writing and found he would be a likable fellow and not at all like the new atheists of today.

His wife (Ann Druyan), OTOH...

[TimelessTheist]

Agreed. Sagan had a joy and enthusiasm that shown through. And he could speak in simple terms without being obviously condescending. Tyson, OTOH, comes across at times as insufferably smug.

Not to mention Sagan just came across as being ignorant, when it came to matters of religion. Tyson, on the other hand, seems to be directly dishonest, if anyone remembers that thread I posted about his blatant lies in the first episode of Cosmos about the history of the Church.

[Apologiaphoenix]

Agreed. Sagan had a joy and enthusiasm that shown through. And he could speak in simple terms without being obviously condescending. Tyson, OTOH, comes across at times as insufferably smug.

An atheist on Amazon once recommended I read Sagan's "Demon-Haunted World."

I read it and while I disagreed with a lot in it, I found that I liked Sagan's writing and found he would be a likable fellow and not at all like the new atheists of today.