Neil DeGrasse Tyson reveals age of Earth, creationists’ heads collectively explode

[JohnR! 5,495]

everything that scientists 'learn' is false information planted by satan.

Satan, which is just another made up entity...

[GandD 5,966]

not when eternal damnation and salvation is on the line.

Up to a third of US citizens believe in evolution. Another third believe in it but that it was controlled by God. The other third........... well you know......

Progress!!!! Lets keep moving them over to reason!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You Catch More Flies with Honey than Vinegar

Catholics are good at that. We will just turn all your gods into saints, ghosts and demons into angels and devils, and make all your pagan festivals into Christian Holidays.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I really can't believe that someone is complaining that it's not religious-y enough. If you choose to believe that unknown things must be controlled by a deity, then how nice for you. But people think that a science tv program should throw in, every so often, "we don't know, must be god!"

The point is scientific inquiry and not guessing about what we don't know, but rather looking for ways to figure it out. It's about the power of imagination and inquiry. America was good at this but is currently faltering somewhat, grabbing on to easy degrees that make a quick buck and keeping their head down, doing what has been done before.

But no, let's just not wonder about anything and say that it's Jesus.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[decocker 7,198]

Up to a third of US citizens believe in evolution. Another third believe in it but that it was controlled by God. The other third........... well you know......

Progress!!!! Lets keep moving them over to reason!

i'm jaded. i don't see much use in walking on eggshells to keep from offending folks' religious sensitivities.

couple weeks ago, my son's friend told him he couldn't wait for him (my son) to die so he'd see what he was missing in heaven by not believing. you know, roads of gold and all that bs. 12 year old boys, and my son was the one to question what use gold will be in heaven (yay!). this is how people are raising their children to think regurgitate, STILL.

I really can't believe that someone is complaining that it's not religious-y enough. If you choose to believe that unknown things must be controlled by a deity, then how nice for you. But people think that a science tv program should throw in, every so often, "we don't know, must be god!"

The point is scientific inquiry and not guessing about what we don't know, but rather looking for ways to figure it out. It's about the power of imagination and inquiry. America was good at this but is currently faltering somewhat, grabbing on to easy degrees that make a quick buck and keeping their head down, doing what has been done before.

But no, let's just not wonder about anything and say that it's Jesus.

[JohnR! 5,495]

I sense an agenda too and I welcome the notion that amongst so many church channels on TV, someone has had the idea to recreate a show capturing the essence of science. In fact, their agenda is clear. The entire show is dedicated to examining and explaining the mysteries and wonders of the universe through the eyes of science, based on scientific data, obtained through scientific method.

Anyone is free do disprove scientific date. Scientists spend their lives retrying their theories and trying to disprove them. We can only wish the creationists were that thorough with their data.

No, the Cosmos folks. One episode was nearly dedicated to how much religion has done to limit the progress of science. While its true, its seems a little unnecessary for what they're trying to do. I watch lots of shows on the science channel that deal with the universe and they never touch on these things. Science is science, politics is something else. Just spend a little more time on what we know and what we think we know than how hard it was to get there. Trying to get more folks on board, not force them to choose.

This was my feeling too. The facts should speak for themselves. They do for me anyway.

I sense more of an agenda with every episode.

[GandD 5,966]

I really can't believe that someone is complaining that it's not religious-y enough. If you choose to believe that unknown things must be controlled by a deity, then how nice for you. But people think that a science tv program should throw in, every so often, "we don't know, must be god!"

The point is scientific inquiry and not guessing about what we don't know, but rather looking for ways to figure it out. It's about the power of imagination and inquiry. America was good at this but is currently faltering somewhat, grabbing on to easy degrees that make a quick buck and keeping their head down, doing what has been done before.

But no, let's just not wonder about anything and say that it's Jesus.

Its one thing to not include Jeebs. (Jesus) Its another to hate on what religion has done to scientific progress in every episode. Dude, we know, you're not playing the game right.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Its one thing to not include Jeebs. (Jesus) Its another to hate on what religion has done to scientific progress in every episode. Dude, we know, you're not playing the game right.

Well, organized religion (mainly Catholic, off the top of my head) has a history of imprisoning scientists for heresy.

They don't do it any more. They had Councils and saw the error of their ways and purified the church. They saw that they had made mistakes, why is it bad to bring up the truth? Knowing history is important. The thing I like about the show is the history of science they present.

I don't think all religious sorts were painted in a bad light. I saw the last episode where a guy counted the generations in the bible to come up with the age of the earth. He wasn't vilified, he did research and was careful and came up with an answer. Good guess, dude. That answer lasted for a long time. No cigar, but not bad reasoning.

Saying that they are against religion just seems like overcompensating for insecurity.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[GandD 5,966]

Well, organized religion (mainly Catholic, off the top of my head) has a history of imprisoning scientists for heresy.

They don't do it any more. They had Councils and saw the error of their ways and purified the church. They saw that they had made mistakes, why is it bad to bring up the truth? Knowing history is important. The thing I like about the show is the history of science they present.

I don't think all religious sorts were painted in a bad light. I saw the last episode where a guy counted the generations in the bible to come up with the age of the earth. He wasn't vilified, he did research and was careful and came up with an answer. Good guess, dude. That answer lasted for a long time. No cigar, but not bad reasoning.

Saying that they are against religion just seems like overcompensating for insecurity.

Bringing it up is fine. They've been dwelling on it though. They made these elaborate "cartoon" segments up to illustrate their point. Sometimes its like half the episode. Just saying, move on to the science, there's plenty of things going on to show the public. Reflect on the history for a bit if you like but they're acting like its as important as the total collected understanding of how the universe works.

[decocker 7,198]

Reflect on the history for a bit if you like but they're acting like its as important as the total collected understanding of how the universe works.

isn't it?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I do think history is just as important. Showing how people's minds worked and what sorts of questions they asked leads to more discovery than just memorizing the results. The story of the thought process is good, vital stuff.

Maybe people will get an idea about how to ask questions. I thought that was the point of the show.

And personally, I think we need more teaching of critical reasoning in schools. We need it in our daily life: too many people read junk news and believe what it says, instead of asking, "Hey, how did they come to this conclusion?"

Edited April 25, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[GandD 5,966]

isn't it?

Maybe for a history show.

I do think history is just as important. Showing how people's minds worked and what sorts of questions they asked leads to more discovery than just memorizing the results. The story of the thought process is good, vital stuff.

Maybe people will get an idea about how to ask questions. I thought that was the point of the show.

It wasn't the point of the original show that this one is supposed to be updating.

[decocker 7,198]

Maybe for a history show.

It wasn't the point of the original show that this one is supposed to be updating.

that's silly. a history show? science encompasses historical facts as we've come to know them or discard them..

[GandD 5,966]

that's silly. a history show? science encompasses historical facts as we've come to know them or discard them..

Lets say Galileo. Part of his story includes the church imprisonment as a result of his scientific discoveries and conclusions. Now, if i was writing it, I would of course include it as it shows the dangers of ignorance in the face of progress. But I'm really more interested in the how and why of his discoveries and conclusions. The freakin' guy made his own lens and telescope for god's sake. If I miss that because I have to hear about how the church was at an impass and struggling to maintain order or the internal politics of the religious establishment that led to blah blah blah I'd be pissed. Religion has historically impeded and in some cases aided scientific discovery.

I dunno, I guess the nuts and bolts of the discoveries interest me more and I feel like I'm getting short changed with this new series. They're not expanding enough on specifics of why and how for my taste. There's so much knowledge to be had and its getting trimmed down because I gotta hear a 20 minute cartoon about Giordano Bruno and his troubles with the Catholic church. 5 minutes would have been plenty.

[decocker 7,198]

Lets say Galileo. Part of his story includes the church imprisonment as a result of his scientific discoveries and conclusions. Now, if i was writing it, I would of course include it as it shows the dangers of ignorance in the face of progress. But I'm really more interested in the how and why of his discoveries and conclusions. The freakin' guy made his own lens and telescope for god's sake. If I miss that because I have to hear about how the church was at an impass and struggling to maintain order or the internal politics of the religious establishment that led to blah blah blah I'd be pissed. Religion has historically impeded and in some cases aided scientific discovery.

I dunno, I guess the nuts and bolts of the discoveries interest me more and I feel like I'm getting short changed with this new series. They're not expanding enough on specifics of why and how for my taste. There's so much knowledge to be had and its getting trimmed down because I gotta hear a 20 minute cartoon about Giordano Bruno and his troubles with the Catholic church. 5 minutes would have been plenty.

how many people in this country use the bible as their main point of reference to support or reject a scientific point? how many of those same people know the actual history of the content of that bible, how it came to be? how many people actually ponder how the lies of religious authority, told over time, have shaped our ability to progress? i think time needs to be spent on these matters wherever possible.