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Truly awesome and glorious!
Posted by CelticBear on December 13th, 2007
OK, with my last post on religion getting that out of my system, probably for another few months at least (it’s a rather fantastic post, that one by John Loftus), it’s time to move on to good and positive things! And one of those things, for me, is the awesome wonder of the universe!!!
“For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” -Carl Sagan
“I maintain there is much more wonder in science than in pseudoscience. And in addition, to whatever measure this term has any meaning, science has the additional virtue, and it is not an inconsiderable one, of being true.” -Carl Sagan
Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, has posted a blog entry as wonderful and glorious as Loftus’ post is critical and sour-pussish:
♦ Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2007
Of course Phil explains each image and discusses some of the wonders of science surrounding each image and its “story.” The universe really is a wondrous and amazing thing!
That reminds me, he also posted a blog yesterday pointing to a fascinating animation project:
♦ Creation vs. Reality
Be sure to go to the linked site and watch the videos…there’s a certain conceit that’s applied that really makes a thought-provoking point, but they don’t come right out and say it–they present it in the way the animations are presented. Really clever!
And since, after my last post, I’m back on the path of being positive and generous, to be fair, most Christians don’t believe in Creation but rather some form of guided evolution. (Of course, that’s like conceding gravity exists but only because a magical…no no! Back on the positive path! I had my purge, now it’s time to stop dumping on religion again for a while! Here goes. *smile*)
December 13th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
We seem to read the same blogs! But now that you are being positive again, I’ve recently been thinking about the universe and our small place in it. I started with a book called “Morning of the Magicians“, which covers a vast set of opinions on our place in the Universe, from the standpoint of human history – definitely not stuck on the point of 4000 years of earths existence as some believe. It has just been republished from the original printing in the early 60’s. Check it out some time, it may be right up your alley.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Thanks for commenting.
While I’m all for investigating the ways we view history, and the subjective human perspectives we apply to historical study, the description of “they assert that mankind can ultimately achieve cosmic interconnectedness” in the book’s description really scares me off. I kind of reject any woo or New Agey ideas about pantheistic, transcendental collective consciousness stuff.
There are some pan-cultural elements to human awareness, or rather perhaps, human consciousness, such as memes. But even memes work in a quasi-genetic manner, and don’t have any kind supernatural or even preternatural nature to them.
I’ll probably check the book out, just so I can discuss it like someone who’s…checked it out.
Thanks for the tip!
January 4th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I’m halfway through it now, and there is very minimal if any new-agey stuff about it (yet).
There are quite a few comparative chapters with early societies scientific discoveries and our own current scientific methods – where we think we have only just come up with things.
If only I was a decent writer I would write a review post on it when done. We will have to see.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Cool. =) The book’s on my Amazon wishlist; I’ll see if I can get a used copy soon.
I know what you mean, though, about the non-uniqueness of some discoveries.
For example, the ancient Greeks knew the Earth was round, and even approximately how large it was, back in 4th century B.C. And here’s the killer for me: They had steam tech! I guess when you think about it, steam powered devices isn’t THAT unusual…seems rather basic. But it’s funny how they were using steam powered mechanics as temple tricks and magical illusions, and then nothing from steam power for another 2000 years.
It amazes me, though, that they were only an iota away from using steam power to create steam driven boats and trains, but they just didn’t take it that far. Imagine what the world world look like today if the ancient Greeks started the Steam Age?
I guess it’s all a matter of how a culture uses its discoveries and what connections they make with other tech. Ideas are a dime a dozen, it’s the applications that matter.