On The Turning Away

Heh. Second post in a day. Found this gem of a vid on YouTube today, had to share and comment. Watch, then read rest of post.

I love Carl Sagan, as a role model and a perfect example of a scientist with religion. Though I am not religious myself, per se, I deeply respect someone who can break the stereotype of the atheist scientist and reconcile faith and science. I know that the two are not mutually exclusive, despite what others may say.

[2022 edit] hi, it is me from the future. I am eternally embarassed at just how...wrong...this post is, but honestly I was such a dumbass at this age in...a lot of ways. Carl Sagan was a ardent athiest and spent a good share of his life ridiculing the religious...[/edit]

Our Earth is a startlingly, heartbreakingly tiny speck of nothing in the vastness of even our own solar system. Yet, despite this utter insignificance, we kill each other with zeal, pollute our cradle, and cast our animal brethren aside. And for what? As the footnote to the video says, "...in glory and triumph, they could become momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." It saddens me to no end to see this, but I stand knowing I am not alone. I have such dreamers as John Lennon, David Gilmour, and, indeed, Carl Sagan standing behind me.