I wasn't too sure whether to post this in the science forum or here... But this is just a small part of a huge debate over religions influence on science. Nearly everyone who is everyone is here, Dawkins, Harris, Randi, and Neil deGrasse Tyson is the principal speaker and makes a really great presentation on Intelligent Design.
He surmises that nearly everyone in history has deferred to intelligent design, and goes through some great minds who have deferred to Intelligent Design at some point, each mind building on the back of the others research.
He makes a great point about Isaac Newton eventually deferred to Intelligent Design to fill in his ignorance and says
"This guy basically invented calculus for a dare. The problems he could not solve were not beyond him, just he stopped and said God did the rest" (not verbatim, a summary)
I think Neil deGrasse Tyson's points about how unsuitable even earth is for us should make any ID or creationist think twice before looking at the need for a God. Its comical in places, and a really great watch. I wish I had the time to get through all the parts, I've discovered over 10 hours of footage!
The point is, the more we say "God did it" the less we progress, the more the economy stagnates, and his illumination of the stagnation of the once great Islamic middle east is a great point. Hopefully reason will win out and our governments will start to invest more in education and research. Saying "God did it" just helps nobody.
He surmises that nearly everyone in history has deferred to intelligent design, and goes through some great minds who have deferred to Intelligent Design at some point, each mind building on the back of the others research.
He makes a great point about Isaac Newton eventually deferred to Intelligent Design to fill in his ignorance and says
"This guy basically invented calculus for a dare. The problems he could not solve were not beyond him, just he stopped and said God did the rest" (not verbatim, a summary)
I think Neil deGrasse Tyson's points about how unsuitable even earth is for us should make any ID or creationist think twice before looking at the need for a God. Its comical in places, and a really great watch. I wish I had the time to get through all the parts, I've discovered over 10 hours of footage!
The point is, the more we say "God did it" the less we progress, the more the economy stagnates, and his illumination of the stagnation of the once great Islamic middle east is a great point. Hopefully reason will win out and our governments will start to invest more in education and research. Saying "God did it" just helps nobody.
