Comment by Billy Zachary on September 5, 2009 at 4:38pm

well said!

Comment by Reggie on September 5, 2009 at 5:16pm

I want to escape but there's no where to go.

I empathize with that sentiment. But since we have no better place to live than this planet inhabited with "these" people, I figure to take a different approach. "These" people are you and I. We all share in our humanity, for all the good and the bad. Unlike our immediate family, which we can flee at a certain age, we are stuck with this "family" and all of it's dysfunction. To continue on wishing that there was a place to escape to makes no more sense to me than praying that a person will be healed of some affliction or another. My preference is to set my mind to making the world a better place.

Carl Sagan's passion for science and cosmology was something spectacular and awe inspiring. Many people went unaffected by his passion for knowledge and he did not eradicate the darkness of our demon haunted world. I suppose Carl knew that this would be a self defeating goal if he set out to to just that. However, what he accomplished and what makes his legacy so dear to many is that he added brightness to that flickering flame. He instilled desire in many of today's scientists and will undoubtedly continue to posthumously inspire future scientists through his works. Not only did he add to the flame of knowledge, but so do the scientists and critical thinkers he inspired. The world remains shrouded in darkness, but we can see more of it now than before and that is what Carl wanted to accomplish.

We will continue to be surrounded by the religious and other deluded people for the rest of our lives. There is no escaping it. God won't appear to let everyone know he does not exist, unfortunately. I think it is best that we take Sagan's approach and work to add to this flame of knowledge to light humanity's way to a better, more reasonable future. I'll never discover Higg's Boson or develop a vaccine for HIV. And to note, no single person may ever make such a break through again giving the sophistication level that many scientific fields have attained. But someone may work on the problem and add to that flame that illuminates great discoveries. Someone that may have not had their curiosity smothered as a child because I encouraged their questioning nature. Someone who saw that I was a good and thoughtful person despite my lack of belief in a god or gods may find that they need not their delusions to be moral. I may never and probably will never personally know if the way I live my life and the ideals that I strive and fight for will ever add to this growing flame. I won't have that satisfaction any more than Carl will never know the joy of finding extra-terrestrial life. He had hoped, but he knew the odds were not very good. Yet he did not give up and run from the problems. He dared not trust that others would tend the flame well enough from being extinguished and giving over to the demons. He worked passionately to maintain it as if he alone were the keeper of this tenuous light. In the process, he added to it greatly.

I think we can all add to the growing enlightenment of our species, a steady ascent towards reason and rationality, and not be discouraged by the occasional backsliding that will eventually be overwhelmed by this upward trend.

Hopefully that didn't come across as pompous, self-righteous, or whatever. It is, however, how I feel about the things that I value. They are worth fighting even a losing battle for.

Comment by CJoe on September 5, 2009 at 5:30pm

Thanks Reggie :). It didn't come across negatively at all; I think it's what I needed to hear. I've been really discouraged lately, especially now that I'm near home again. I just think I'm still adjusting to this Atheist thing. Even though people didn't like hanging out with me when I was a Christian (and, I think that problem was magnified in my mind more than it was actually true), I didn't fear them knowing I was a Christian. Now, after reading how badly Atheists are treated, I don't know what to expect if people do find out.

*sigh*

I do want to make a difference though. Thanks for inspiring me again!

Comment by Doug Reardon on September 5, 2009 at 11:33pm

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

Comment by CJoe on September 6, 2009 at 3:24pm

Hmmm... I would have to disagree with that. I think freedom means you have everything to lose, ironically. Freedom is being able to have access to your highest values; if you lose those values, you lose what's most important to you, i.e. everything.

Comment by Reggie on September 7, 2009 at 3:10am

Thanks Reggie :)

You are very welcome! I get discouraged from time to time as well, but I try to stay positive as best as I can. When you are feeling blue, just remember to ask yourself "what would Carl Sagan do?" WWCSD. Actually, I need a bumper sticker with that and Carl's likeness on it.

Comment by Reggie on September 7, 2009 at 3:11am

Reggie, sounds like you are inciting a "smoke out" of the Christians. Ha!

Smoke 'em out of their holes of ignorance. Seriously, I could go on and on with these metaphors all day or until someone pleads, for the love of all that is good, to stop.

Comment by Doug Reardon on September 8, 2009 at 12:11pm

CaraColeen: it's a line from a Janis Joplin song: Me and Bobbie McGee

Comment by CJoe on September 8, 2009 at 5:28pm

Ohhhh mah bad

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