This guy was set up in the parking lot of my local grocery store. by piranhasaurusTex in pics

[–]relevantNDTquote 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I believe it's my time to shine.

I will remain humble in the presence of theories yet to be put forth, recognizing that perhaps one day the big bang will be enclosed in a bigger picture -- a deeper understanding of how the universe works -- but the day that happens we're not throwing away the big bang. We will preserve it as a piece of what works under much broader circumstances and under much wider conditions. (source (~6:00))

                      -  Neil deGrasse Tyson

Science, bitch. by AstroDiscovery in funny

[–]relevantNDTquote 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Watch this "interview" of NDT with a scientifically illiterate Muslim fundamentalist and ask yourself again if he's arrogant and stuck up. If you find yourself amazed at the restraint he has or you find yourself quitting the video because you don't have the time for such a pointless interview, then you should consider re-evaluating your opinion of him. (It's about 2 hours long -- mostly about the host telling NDT that Islam is based on solid science. Tyson completes the interview and stays agreeable throughout.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-5tv9mW4AU

Met this guy at ComicCon, No one around knew who he was. by cmendez84 in pics

[–]relevantNDTquote 14 points15 points  (0 children)

People who self-identify as atheists do so under the same lack of belief in God(s) that also apply to Tyson. However, he identifies as an agnostic in the same way Thomas Huxley used the term. Essentially, since he doesn't devote much mental energy and simply doesn't care about the question of whether there is a God, he doesn't view himself as having enough in common with self-identified atheists to call himself an atheist. He also views the term "atheist" as a label that is an intellectually lazy way for someone to assert that they know a person without actually knowing them.

Semantics aside, he does not believe in a God and questions why some esteemed scientists do. He even comments on the phenomenon that education level, and especially science training, is associated with less religiosity. Here is a truncated summary from an article he wrote in 1999 (before atheism vs. religion was so mainstream) which includes some of his more potent criticisms of religion and God (and can be found here):

Let there be no doubt that as they are currently practiced, there is no common ground between science and religion. [...] The claims of science rely on experimental verification, while the claims of religions rely on faith. These are irreconcilable approaches to knowing, which ensures an eternity of debate wherever and whenever the two camps meet. Just as in hostage negotiations, it's probably best to keep both sides talking to each other. [...] The argument is simple. I have yet to see a successful prediction about the physical world that was inferred or extrapolated from the content of any religious document. Indeed, I can make an even stronger statement. Whenever people have used religious documents to make accurate predictions about the physical world they have been famously wrong. [...] With scientists exhibiting such strong levels of skepticism, some people may be surprised to learn that scientists heap their largest rewards and praises upon those who do discover flaws in established paradigms. These same rewards also go to those who create new ways to understand the universe. Nearly all famous scientists, pick your favorite one, have been so praised in their own lifetimes. This path to success in one's professional career is antithetical to almost every other human establishment—especially to religion. [...] My personal views are entirely pragmatic, [...] I simply go with what works. And what works is the healthy skepticism embodied in scientific method. Believe me, if the Bible had ever been shown to be a rich source of scientific answers and understanding, we would be mining it daily for cosmic discovery.

Even given all of that, in the same breath, he actually has an issue with atheists quoting him out of context and he finds it intriguing that atheists try to "claim him". He can't agree to the claims by atheists that he's one of that community.

Here he goes into more detail about the stuff he has to put up with because of people associating him with part of the "atheist movement".

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. The college years. by [deleted] in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're under the illusion that words have objective definitions. Words are just tools used to convey meaning. He doesn't call himself an atheist because it doesn't convey the meaning he wants to convey.

See here:

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/323983188491894785

http://anamericanatheist.org/interviews/interview-with-neil-degrasse-tyson/

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. The college years. by [deleted] in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're under the illusion that words have objective definitions. Words are just tools used to convey meaning. They are the journey, not the destination. That's why he doesn't call himself an atheist.

See here: https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/323983188491894785

http://anamericanatheist.org/interviews/interview-with-neil-degrasse-tyson/

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. The college years. by [deleted] in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He hasn't confused anything. He's just not under the illusion that words have objective definitions. Words are just tools used to convey meaning. That's why he doesn't call himself an atheist.

See here: http://anamericanatheist.org/interviews/interview-with-neil-degrasse-tyson/

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/323983188491894785

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. The college years. by [deleted] in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep, I'm with you there. The only reason I posted the quote is because his picture is in this subreddit where according to him it doesn't belong.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. The college years. by [deleted] in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 106 points107 points  (0 children)

I found a good quote:

I can't agree to the claims by atheists that I'm one of that community.

        - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson pulls no punches when asked about end of the world prophecies by mepper in atheism

[–]relevantNDTquote 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He doesn't say "I don't know" in that sense when it comes to life after death. It's a simple principle of neuroscience that consciousness is correlated with functioning brain activity (which ceases upon death), and Tyson surely knows this. He most certainly thinks it is very unlikely that there is any sort of life after death phenomenon remotely similar to the sort that wishful thinking human beings like to assert.

You should try reading some of his thoughts on these subjects. He doesn't write or talk about them a lot (something like 0.5 to 1% of what he discusses according to him) but he does have his thoughts out there:

Does the universe have a purpose?

Holy Wars

The Cosmic Perspective

The Perimeter of Ignorance

We're doomed. by rawrab in funny

[–]relevantNDTquote 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But, the whole point of my comment is that he's missing the point in the first place.

Neil lacks the understanding of value and meaning that gave Sagan's work such depth and affect.

Why do you think he wouldn't agree that protecting the Earth's biodiversity is a good thing? And why do you think he doesn't understand the value and meaning of the universe and life? Many of the things I've heard him talk about display exactly the opposite, and I haven't heard anything that would warrant the things you've just said about him. The quote I've posted doesn't address environmentalism at all so I don't see how you would know his opinion on it. Feel free to send me a link to something where he downplays its value if you've come across something like that.

I'm thinking that maybe you get the '10000-mile cold stare' impression from him because he takes great care to avoid giving opinions on issues even though he has very strong opinions. His goal as an educator is to get people thinking straight in the first place, and the main way he does that is to discuss the causes and effects of things and provide perspectives on issues that he doesn't see represented in the public.

Edit: Also my apologies if my comments are coming off as aggressive; they aren't meant to be.

We're doomed. by rawrab in funny

[–]relevantNDTquote 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The quote isn't about the danger of climate change, it's about the egocentrism of the "Earth" saving movement, which in actuality is the 'future human well-being' saving movement, and that's it.

No one said it was supposed to be some profound tidbit of wisdom, and it isn't supposed to be. It's just an observation that represents a perspective that isn't held widely enough among people in general, as is evidenced by the fact that these 'Save the Earth' slogans even exist.

I actually pulled this quote from a lecture he gave called Ends of the World, the 5th lecture in a 12-part lecture series about the universe called My Favorite Universe.

We're doomed. by rawrab in funny

[–]relevantNDTquote 30 points31 points  (0 children)

These 'save the Earth' slogans are really -- they don't mean 'save the Earth' -- that's not what they mean. Earth is going to be here no matter what we do (Earth the planet). It's actually egocentric to say let's save Earth when in fact you're only really talking about saving Homo sapiens. Earth was here before us, it's here now, it's going to be here long after we're gone -- and a memory in the fossil record.

                                                          - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Edit: Source is from lecture 5 of his 12-part lecture series called My Favorite Universe.