Comments on: A Tribute to Carl Sagan: Leaving a Demon-Haunted World http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/leaving-a-demon-haunted-world/ Promoting Science and Critical Thinking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:04:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stephen Cote http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/leaving-a-demon-haunted-world/#comment-3133 Stephen Cote Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:55:13 +0000 http://www.skeptic.com/?p=1589#comment-3133 It is amazing how much Sagan's 'A Demon Haunted world' has had an impact not only on myself but by so many I have met and read about, including the writers who have almost imortilized him. But Carl would caution us all not to ever hold him up to a cult leader hero. We must remember that he was human and made mistakes just like us all. But yes oh yes, I certainly miss the man that I never met!!!! Great article. It really hit home and is one reason why i left the Catholic Church. I always remember a quote I can only paraphrase at this time from Dr. Sagan, i.e., "If one is too skeptical one might miss something, but if one is too openminded then one's brain falls out." It is amazing how much Sagan’s ‘A Demon Haunted world’ has had an impact not only on myself but by so many I have met and read about, including the writers who have almost imortilized him. But Carl would caution us all not to ever hold him up to a cult leader hero. We must remember that he was human and made mistakes just like us all. But yes oh yes, I certainly miss the man that I never met!!!! Great article. It really hit home and is one reason why i left the Catholic Church. I always remember a quote I can only paraphrase at this time from Dr. Sagan, i.e., “If one is too skeptical one might miss something, but if one is too openminded then one’s brain falls out.”

]]> By: Kenn http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/leaving-a-demon-haunted-world/#comment-2052 Kenn Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:29:02 +0000 http://www.skeptic.com/?p=1589#comment-2052 I think Carl Sagan helped me arrive at my world view too, though for me it started with the Cosmos series on PBS. It inspired me with its wonder, its sense of scale and perspective, and with the idea that we learned what we know through science. At the time, I was a religious child in religious family (in Utah as a matter of fact, but not Mormon), but I saw no contradiction initially. The seeds were planted though, and by the time I read Demon-Haunted World as an adult, it confirmed views I had already adopted. As a result, I have a great fondness for Carl Sagan, flawed human that he was. I don't think I miss anyone whom I've never met as much. I think Carl Sagan helped me arrive at my world view too, though for me it started with the Cosmos series on PBS. It inspired me with its wonder, its sense of scale and perspective, and with the idea that we learned what we know through science. At the time, I was a religious child in religious family (in Utah as a matter of fact, but not Mormon), but I saw no contradiction initially. The seeds were planted though, and by the time I read Demon-Haunted World as an adult, it confirmed views I had already adopted.

As a result, I have a great fondness for Carl Sagan, flawed human that he was. I don’t think I miss anyone whom I’ve never met as much.

]]> By: Benjamin Smith http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/leaving-a-demon-haunted-world/#comment-2051 Benjamin Smith Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:26:12 +0000 http://www.skeptic.com/?p=1589#comment-2051 "Daemon Haunted World" was also, for me, the book that "set the world right". Through it's simple, sensible, truth-inspiring principles, I too was able to shed the last of the cognitive dissonance and uncertainty that my Mormon upbring brought me! And yes, leaving the Church IS difficult. I really cannot have a close relationship with my family members except on the most superficial level because of this disagreement. Anybody who disagrees with the idea that Mormons aren't a cult has never tried to leave it. “Daemon Haunted World” was also, for me, the book that “set the world right”. Through it’s simple, sensible, truth-inspiring principles, I too was able to shed the last of the cognitive dissonance and uncertainty that my Mormon upbring brought me!

And yes, leaving the Church IS difficult. I really cannot have a close relationship with my family members except on the most superficial level because of this disagreement.

Anybody who disagrees with the idea that Mormons aren’t a cult has never tried to leave it.

]]> By: dan satterfield http://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/leaving-a-demon-haunted-world/#comment-1920 dan satterfield Sun, 13 Jun 2010 08:09:46 +0000 http://www.skeptic.com/?p=1589#comment-1920 Pearson, I celebrate Sagan's birthday every year. Demon Haunted World is an amazing and humbling book. What a great story you tell. It would have made Sagan smile. Pearson,
I celebrate Sagan’s birthday every year. Demon Haunted World is an amazing and humbling book. What a great story you tell. It would have made Sagan smile.

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