Joel Kontinen
In Cosmos, ”The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be". This was Dr Carl Sagan’s creed.
We know that natural laws cannot bring the cosmos into existence. The universe looks designed, which is something his successor Neil DeGrasse Tyson will not admit. Instead, it dwells on the persecution of the 16th century monk and philosopher Giordano Bruno, which he sees as a martyr for science.
Bruno was executed in 1600, due not to his views on science, but his low views on Christ. At that time the Counter-Reformation looked on all suppression as potential dissent.
It seems that Neil DeGrasse Tyson was quite clever at fabricating science news.
“Neil deGrasse Tyson may be a fabulous scientist, and a consummate showman, but he's downright terrible at accurately quoting people. Or, if you're a ‘glass half full’ kind of person, you might say that Neil deGrasse Tyson is pretty amazing at needlessly fabricating quotes and scenarios to showcase his own brilliance.”
In evolution news, Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with historian of science Michael Keas. In chapter 4 of his new book Unbelievable: 7 Myths About the History and Future of Science and Religion Keas shows that Bruno was not martyred for science, "He was burned for his religious view that an infinite God had to make the universe that way — and that everyone’s soul ‘transmigrates’ to other planets after death, rather than meeting a final judgment."
Source:
Giordano Bruno: A Martyr, Yes, But Not for Science. Andrew McDiarmid continues his conversation with historian of science Michael Keas. Evolution news & science today (30 January).
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