Happy Birthday Carl Sagan...

[richard_daily]

“In many cultures, the customary answer is that a God or Gods created the Universe out of nothing. But if we wish to pursue this question courageously, we must of course ask the next question: where did God come from? If we decide that this is an unanswerable question, why not save a step and conclude that the origin of the Universe is an unanswerable question? Or, if we say that God always existed, why not save a step, and conclude that the Universe always existed? That there’s no need for a creation, it was always here. These are not easy questions. Cosmology brings us face to face with the deepest mysteries, questions that were once treated only in religion and myth.”

 

[Laurel]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u6lfiOxnISI/Trq8Cyi6YLI/AAAAAAAADnI/Xi2_HQHsjzI/s506/3FLV.jpg

 

[richard_daily]

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/082009/1251386067_lollercoaster.gif

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

Carl Sagan is second only to Christopher Hitchens in my book of cool bro!

Stew

 

[RjThoughts]

Carl Sagan is second only to Christopher Hitchens in my book of cool bro!

Stew

Christopher Hitchens was over-the-top dickish at times.

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

Christopher Hitchens was over-the-top dickish at times.

his history of dickishness wasn't as storied as the belief systems he debated bro!

Stew

 

[RjThoughts]

his history of dickishness wasn't as storied as the belief systems he debated bro!

Stew

I saw him in NYC three times, and each time, he was a total dick, even to his "followers."

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

I saw him in NYC three times, and each time, he was a total dick, even to his "followers."

I'm not defending his behavior; I do understand though that in many debates, he was in hostile territory and mocked by a lot of people in the audience during his debates. his debating skills and ability to deconstruct an opponent were top-notch bro!

Stew

 

[RjThoughts]

I'm not defending his behavior; I do understand though that in many debates, he was in hostile territory and mocked by a lot of people in the audience during his debates. his debating skills and ability to deconstruct an opponent were top-notch bro!

Stew

Dude,

When I saw him in NYC, he wasn't debating.

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

Dude,

When I saw him in NYC, he wasn't debating.

I don't excuse his dickishness bro!

Stew

 

[RjThoughts]

I don't excuse his dickishness bro!

Stew

You tried to, using the "He was debating..." excuse. No. He was just a celebrity being a dick each time I saw him.

 

[KUJACK]

Billions and Billions

Billions of ego in space.

 

[JakeBNice]

Weird that Christopher Hitchens and Carl Sagan would be compared/included in the same conversation to begin with. I'm not seeing the connection.

 

[phrodeau]

Back to the topic:

http://www.carlsaganvideos.com/carl-sagan-planets

 

[RjThoughts]

Gotta admit:

Some of you loved watching "Cosmos" on PBS!

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

You tried to, using the "He was debating..." excuse. No. He was just a celebrity being a dick each time I saw him.

from a previous comment of mine bro :

I'm not defending his behavior

I know he had a reputation for being a dick. I also know he was one hell of a debater, and was able to take down opponents with smiles all around bro!

Stew

 

[JohnnySavage]

I sat next to Johnny Unitas on a flight to Miami one time.

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

Weird that Christopher Hitchens and Carl Sagan would be compared/included in the same conversation to begin with. I'm not seeing the connection.

they were both prominent atheists. but like phrodeau said, the thread went off topic, and I apologize for that. I deeply admired Carl Sagan, and wish some of his dreams and ideas had come to fruition bro!

Stew

 

[RjThoughts]

from a previous comment of mine bro :



I know he had a reputation for being a dick. I also know he was one hell of a debater, and was able to take down opponents with smiles all around bro!

Stew

In one breath, you were, then said you didn't. He was a good debater, but I've seen better.

 

[phrodeau]

Which of these does not belong?

Carl Sagan: atheist and popularizer of cosmological science
Richard Dawkins: atheist and popularizer of evolutionary science
Jonathan Miller: atheist and popularizer of medical science
Christopher Hitchens: atheist and journalist

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

In one breath, you were, then said you didn't. He was a good debater, but I've seen better.

I never once excused his dickishness away from debates bro!

Stew

 

[Stewart_Pidd]

Which of these does not belong?

Carl Sagan: atheist and popularizer of cosmological science and author
Richard Dawkins: atheist and popularizer of evolutionary science and author
Jonathan Miller: atheist and popularizer of medical science and author
Christopher Hitchens: atheist, journalist and author

fixed your post bro!

Stew

 

[JakeBNice]

they were both prominent atheists. but like phrodeau said, the thread went off topic, and I apologize for that. I deeply admired Carl Sagan, and wish some of his dreams and ideas had come to fruition bro!

Stew

Sagan never self-identified as an atheist. He didn't like the absolute nature of the term.

“An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no God.” - Carl Sagan.

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking share a similar view. Even Richard Dawkins to some extent says he's just a little bit agnostic because, while it might be apparent there is no god or gods, it's somewhat impossible to prove one way or another.

Hitchens was in fact an atheist though. Antitheist or infidel is what he self-applied.

 

[phrodeau]

fixed your post bro!

Stew

Thanks, sis.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Sagan never self-identified as an atheist. He didn't like the absolute nature of the term.

“An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no God.” - Carl Sagan.

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking share a similar view. Even Richard Dawkins to some extent says he's just a little bit agnostic because, while it might be apparent there is no god or gods, it's somewhat impossible to prove one way or another.

Hitchens was in fact an atheist though. Antitheist or infidel is what he self-applied.

You are right about Sagan and Tyson, they didn't/don't believe in absolutes. However, Hawking did make a statement about being a true atheist back in September. Dawkins is agnostic in the sense that he can't explain the nature of the universe as just something that happened by chance.

As to Carl Sagan, Happy Birthday wherever you are.