Neil deGrasse Tyson Says Science Is True Whether or Not You Believe It

Astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson, the star of the new Fox program “Cosmos: A Space-Time Odessey” was recently on the Colbert Report to promote the show. During his interview, he extolled the virtues of science which he said transcends personal opinion and individual belief.

Obviously, when a new theory is introduced, it is challenged by the scientific community. However, if the results are independently reproducible, the theory becomes an established truth without regard to any individual’s personal belief. This led him to say this singular aspect of science is beneficial because it is “true whether or not you believe it”.

In context, his words are being used to condescend the religious values of people whose individual belief in science does not preclude the existence of God or of Biblical accounts for the creation of the universe. It is not clear how Tyson himself feels about Christians or Muslims or anyone else who attributes the existence of mankind to a higher power. It may be that he’ll keep his opinions to himself much as Michael Jordan did during his product endorsement heyday when he was goaded into making derogatory remarks about Republicans and instead responded by quoting his publicist that “Republicans buy lots of shoes”.

The Fox network is taking a big gamble on the science program by airing in on prime time Sunday evening. Point in fact, the network is taking a big gamble on the show airing it at all. Both the late Carl Sagan and his wife lobbied network channels for over two decades to air a follow up series to the original program from the early 1980s. Networks just didn’t believe there was much pubic interest in a primetime science show.

Host Profile: Neil deGrasse Tyson | COSMOS | FOX BROADCASTING
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Cosmos: A Personal Voyage – Episode 4 (Carl Sagan)

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Source:
http://www.itwire.com/science-news/space/63411-science-is-true-“whether-or-not-you-believe-in-it”