Again, apologies for not being able to post Youtube videos here. It is an unfortunate trend, but I hope that they do change it someday. Frankly, it's a bit annoying that they impose such limitations to begin with.
That said, it's not something I can control, so let's move on.
Carl Sagan was a great scientist. Every time see him in video clips and hear his distinctive voice, it brings me back to comforting moments in childhood. I would not say that he was exactly a hero of mine, because I never got to see him all that much. However, when I did see him, there was always a good feeling. Instinctively, I had the impression that this was a good and decent man. Someone I could trust, if you will.
If anything, that feeling has strengthened now, all these years later, even though he is gone, and I am now an adult (and far more cynical, at that). A lot of what he said back then feels very true still. Plus, this guy quite accurately predicted what the world would look like decades from when he made these predictions, back in the nineties.
All of which added to his credibility, in my opinion.
In this short video clip, Sagan explains that a small but highly influential group of religious zealots, who interpret the Bible literally, are effectively trying to block scientific truth. They are absolute in their determination that they are right, and that their viewpoint is the one and only truth, or should be interpreted as such. And they can be dangerous with this power, which Sagan seems clearly to believe they should not be entrusted with.
For that matter, the more I have seen of the influence of religious fanatics in the United States over the decades, the more inclined I am to believe Sagan's warnings.
Anyway, below is the link to the short Youtube clip that I am referring to.
Take a look and enjoy:
Carl Sagan "Where Religion Gets Into Trouble" (Charlie Rose Interview 1996)
In his final interview with Charlie Rose on May 27, 1996, astronomer Carl Sagan warned that a society relying on advanced technology while its citizens remain scientifically illiterate is headed for disaster. He emphasized that science is a "way of thinking"—characterized by skepticism and inquiry—rather than just a body of knowledge
https://youtube.com/shorts/mTNa5ZNESUw?si=tGYSn3Neqdb0xAg8
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