[Valid Atom 1.0]

Monday, March 10, 2014

It is amazing how hostile the new Cosmos series is to religion and the Roman Catholic Church…

Patheos is spot on with this criticism…
I liked the old Cosmos series. That said, it was no secret that Carl Sagon was out spoken about his skepticism of God or an afterlife. But he was straight forward about it and that was perfectly fine with me (even if I disagree)--it is an unanswered question scientifically. I was looking forward to this remake of Cosmos.

But I was surprised when in the series premier last night it included inserting an animated segment of the Roman Catholic Church and Inquisition trying and then burning Giordano Bruno, a heretical friar in 15th Century Italy, supposedly over his belief of a multi world universe. Beyond stretching the historical truth of that, that seemed more about the supporting the anti religious biases of Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Seth MacFarlane, and the writers of the show than about explaining the universe.  Not to say the Catholic Church hasn't had its problems over the years, but the reason our knowledge of the Romans and Greeks even survived to the Renaissance is thanks to libraries and knowledge maintained by the Catholic Church.  The particular segment was unnecessary and just anti religious propaganda.  DeGrasse Tyson explained the enormity of time since the big bang to now (and what a small segment of that constitutes human history) yet they spent over a quarter of last night's show focused on poor Giordano Bruno.

Tony Rossi says it well with this:
I wish the creators of “Cosmos” had that kind of an open mind when it came to addressing religion. The show’s presentation of science will likely be brilliant and visually stunning, hopefully opening people’s minds to the wonder and complexity of the universe. But it should have stayed within the parameters of its own expertise – or at least provided an unbiased look at the whole story of what actually happened. A show and worldview that thrive on empirical evidence should have the sense and integrity to apply that approach to all aspects of its storytelling.
The tie in of Neil DeGrasse Tyson sharing how when he was a kid, Carl Sagan at Cornell gave him a tour of his lab was far better than that segment on the Inquisition.  Just sayin.

Updated:
They blinded them with Science!
Five things DeGrasse Tyson got very wrong in the new Cosmos 

9 comments:

  1. The Know-Nothings, like the anti-Semites, are back.

    Funny how that coincides with the rise of the nut Left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unlike the Know Nothings, these folks are hostile to any expression of faith.

      Delete
  2. "amazing how hostile the new Cosmos series is to religion" Not so amazing to me, after I heard that Seth MacFarlane was one of the show's producers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And not when you see Bill Nye the Annoying Guy photo-bombing that tweet shot above with DeGrasse Tyson and Pres. Obama.

      Delete
  3. With all due respect to Professor Tyson and his cohort physicists....the time span of human presence on earth, perhaps the universe(s), is being pushed back regularly as evidence of humanity are discovered in ancient layers formerly thought to be pre-human. If religion is primarily a human fantasy, then explain the origins of humans in physical terms, not biological or social.

    I will not be watching a show with such bias prominently displayed in the premier segment. Never mind the fact that were it not for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish monk/scholars there would be little "science" for Prof Tyson to revel in today.

    Expertise in one field does not confer expertise in all fields. Look at Obama, he knows absolutely nothing but considers himself expert in everything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clarification: ...monk/scholar/scribes is what I meant. Left of the "scribe" part in error.

      Delete
  4. I recorded the premier and was looking forward to the series, but won't watch. I'm tired of this new science that demands that I believe their view or be declared a heretic to be banished.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was disappointed with it. Get ready for a heavy dose of how the science is completely settled on global warming (it isn't) and how anyone who doesn't embrace evolution with the converted single minded fervor of Bill Nye are just "anti science." I welcome spirited and thoughtful debate. I find leftist propaganda so close minded and shallow.

      Delete

I welcome all legitimate comments. Keep it civil. Spam will be deleted. Thanks.