Today is Carl Sagan Day. He was born this day in 1934, and we all know his huge contributions to science, and especially to astronomy. He died of cancer December 20th 1996, a few months before the film Contact, based on his book hit the movie theatres.

I'll leave everyone with one of his most beautiful pieces:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw[/youtube]

"Consider again that dot ..." Sod the Sermon on the Mount & considering the fucking lilies of the field. St Sagan beats Jesus every time

Bookmarking for later

When my best friend had his firstborn, I got her a giant glossy BBC space book (really gorgeous) and wrote the "Pale Blue Dot" soliloquy in the front. I think it's one of the greatest pieces of writing in the English language.

Sagan is my god! But he was a bit too mealy mouthed and polite to religious folks. He de-bunked their woo ["Demon Haunted World etc], but he was too damn polite, IMHO! Prefer Dawkins.

trubble76 wrote:When my best friend had his firstborn, I got her a giant glossy BBC space book (really gorgeous) and wrote the "Pale Blue Dot" soliloquy in the front. I think it's one of the greatest pieces of writing in the English language.

That's the best gift one could gift a child.

Darwinsbulldog wrote:Sagan is my god! But he was a bit too mealy mouthed and polite to religious folks. He de-bunked their woo ["Demon Haunted World etc], but he was too damn polite, IMHO! Prefer Dawkins.

Carl Sagan might have been polite but I think he got his point across much better. Some people who have a problem with the more aggressive atheists like Dawkins, would more likely listen and read Carl Sagan, rather than Dawkins or Hitchens. There is a progression to be made, and Carl Sagan can be very important to start someone on the journey of rationality.

My opinion is that both types are needed. A lot of theists/deists are more likely to listen initially to someone like Carl Sagan, rather than Dawkins.

Demon-Haunted World is one of my favorite books.

The dragon in my garage
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJRy3Kl_z5E[/youtube]

Darkchilde wrote:

Darwinsbulldog wrote:Sagan is my god! But he was a bit too mealy mouthed and polite to religious folks. He de-bunked their woo ["Demon Haunted World etc], but he was too damn polite, IMHO! Prefer Dawkins.

Carl Sagan might have been polite but I think he got his point across much better. Some people who have a problem with the more aggressive atheists like Dawkins, would more likely listen and read Carl Sagan, rather than Dawkins or Hitchens. There is a progression to be made, and Carl Sagan can be very important to start someone on the journey of rationality.

My opinion is that both types are needed. A lot of theists/deists are more likely to listen initially to someone like Carl Sagan, rather than Dawkins.

Demon-Haunted World is one of my favorite books.

I totally agree actually!

He was a paragon of human achievement... Plus many other things. Great man.

Darwinsbulldog wrote:Sagan is my god! But he was a bit too mealy mouthed and polite to religious folks. He de-bunked their woo ["Demon Haunted World etc], but he was too damn polite, IMHO! Prefer Dawkins.

I have to disagree as I admire his patience and laid-back approach. And honest intrinsic politeness is of a dying kind.
Everybody can be rude but honest kindness is something I greatly respect and value in a human being.

Miss you, Carl. We need you back here.

orpheus wrote:Miss you, Carl. We need you back here.

Say that again! We need more people like Carl Sagan.

one of my favourites

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnURElCzGc0[/youtube]