Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweets jokes about Christians on Christmas Day

[sirkeelma]

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson decided to spend part of Christmas Day riling up Christians.

The "Cosmos" host cracked wise about the biggest holiday of the year in a series of tweets.

Here are some of his tweets


Imagine a world in which we are all enlightened by objective truths rather than offended by them.


Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That's why Benny the Blue-nosed reindeer never got the gig


Merry Christmas to all. A Pagan holiday (BC) becomes a Religious holiday (AD). Which then becomes a Shopping holiday (USA).


On this day long ago, a child was born who, by age 30, would transform the world. Happy Birthday Isaac Newton b. Dec 25, 1642


QUESTION: ThIs year, what do all the world's Muslims and Jews call December 25th? ANSWER: Thursday

Neil trolling Christians hard.:lol

[Raymone]

Well, Neil is full of shit because Newton was born on January 4th, 1643.

[Batzman]

Did he get hacked or something? I thought he doesn't care for religious debates.

[sirkeelma]

Well, Neil is full of shit because Newton was born on January 4th, 1643.

Newton was born during a 150-year-period where England used a different calendar from the rest of Europe. While the rest of the continent adopted the Gregorian calendar that we use today, the English persisted in using the less accurate Julian calendar which lagged ten days behind because of a faulty method of accounting for leap years. As a result, while Newton was born on December 25, 1642 in England, his birthday was January 4, 1643 everywhere else.

[ace23]

Did he get hacked or something? I thought he doesn't care for religious debates.
Lol

[MadeFromDust]

Neil deGrasse Tyson's brain doesn't exist. He can't see his brain. He can't touch his brain. He can't smell his brain. He can't hear his brain. Therefore, he doesn't have a brain! :pimp:

[ItsMillerTime]

Neil deGrasse Tyson's brain doesn't exist. He can't see his brain. He can't touch his brain. He can't smell his brain. He can't hear his brain. Therefore, he doesn't have a brain! :pimp:

Terrible analogy.

[L.Kizzle]

Who writes his material, Carlos Mencia?

[SCdac]

making fun of christianity has gotten old. mostly because it's easy and everybody does it. doing it on christmas is just tacky imo. (and I love tyson's work btw)

[Trollsmasher]

another uncivilized negro:facepalm

ship him back to Africa

[knickballer]

making fun of christianity has gotten old. mostly because it's easy and everybody does it. doing it on christmas is just tacky imo. (and I love tyson's work btw)

This. I would be more impressed if he did the same with Islam because he'd face death threats and major uproar from liberals and extremists alike. With Christianity no one cares and everyone makes fun of them.

[~primetime~]

The only tweet that seems like it could be offensive is the pagan one... The others seem very harmless imo

Really he's just trying to enlighten us with truths like he says, not troll religion, I don't think NDT is the type that cares to "troll" religion

[CavaliersFTW]

Did he get hacked or something? I thought he doesn't care for religious debates.
He doesn't care for religion.

[CavaliersFTW]

Neil deGrasse Tyson's brain doesn't exist. He can't see his brain. He can't touch his brain. He can't smell his brain. He can't hear his brain. Therefore, he doesn't have a brain! :pimp:
His brain is material and it or anyone else's is easy to detect/prove to exist. Though yours might be a little more difficult to detect.

[SCdac]

eh, christmas is part of american culture... people should just accept that and get over it rather than slamming it or trivializing it... and this is coming from a jew... yea materialism and consumerism is whack (in reference to one of his tweets), we all agree, but there's nothing wrong with gift giving imo. shitting on the holiday on christmas day reminds me of people using veteran's day to air out the grievances about american wars. like, really??

[MadeFromDust]

His brain is material and it or anyone else's is easy to detect/prove to exist. Though yours might be a little more difficult to detect.
Quite a leap of faith there huh ISHiot? :sleeping

[CavaliersFTW]

eh, christmas is part of american culture... people should just accept that and get over it rather than slamming it or trivializing it... and this is coming from a jew... yea materialism and consumerism is whack (in reference to one of his tweets), we all agree, but there's nothing wrong with gift giving imo. shitting on the holiday on christmas day reminds me of people using veteran's day to air out the grievances about american wars. like, really??
He's making jokes. If you think he is slamming do you despise the entire concept of comedy?, which takes similar jabs at not only religion but also every other topic under the sun about human life?

[CavaliersFTW]

Quite a leap of faith there huh ISHiot? :sleeping
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Human_Brain.jpg

Now show me a picture of God.

[MadeFromDust]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Human_Brain.jpg
Looks photoshopped.

Now show me a picture of God.
Ummmm, get a Bible and read it cover to cover :rolleyes:

[SCdac]

He's making jokes. If you think he is slamming do you despise the entire concept of comedy?, which takes similar jabs at not only religion but also every other topic under the sun about human life?

I'm not offended. Tyson is a sharp, smart guy. Again, it's just tired and tacky to do it on christmas day imo. point to me where he takes jabs at other holidays or religions during their holidays, I don't follow him on twitter

[macmac]

Looks photoshopped.
Ummmm, get a Bible and read it cover to cover :rolleyes:


I've flipped through it. There's no pictures in there, just a collection of bullshit stories loosely tied together. I've read more convincing fictional tales on reddit.

[Cowboy Thunder]

I'm not offended. Tyson is a sharp, smart guy. Again, it's just tired and tacky to do it on christmas day imo. point to me where he takes jabs at other holidays or religions during their holidays, I don't follow him on twitter

Sad to read this thread and hear about Neil's tweets


Huge fan of the guy. Watched every Cosmos and love his work. Still, super tacky. :facepalm

[TylerOO]

Who writes his material, Carlos Mencia?

:oldlol: :oldlol:

[bluechox2]

to be civilized, you must learn to adapt to the world around you, you can take your bits and pieces of religion along for the ride but keep that world in which religion came from behind

[Akrazotile]

Who writes his material, Carlos Mencia?


:oldlol:

[russwest0]

Those tweets are on point.

Just watched the new Cosmos for the first time today and loved it.

[tomtucker]

he should make fun of muslims next.......then Hindus..... oh wait ! he won

[dunksby]

Those are funny jokes, from the looks of this thread he is right too.

[StephHamann]

Now show me a picture of God.

http://financesonline.com/uploads/kobe.jpg

:bowdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9HjNWbJvA

[Dresta]

If this was about Islam and in the UK the po-po would be breaking his door down right about now.

edit: what i can't stand about people like NdT, is that they get their moral sense and sentiments from Christianity, moralise about them, and then ridicule Christianity as if they have emancipated themselves from it. Charity, humility, diligence (i.e. doing your best for an employer that gives not shit about you, as i've seen many on this site esteem), equality, et cetera. These are only moral virtues to us because Christianity has made them so.

There is a reason Odysseus was a Greek hero despite being so reprehensible to Christian morality. If you aren't religious, then you first need to accept that morality is wholly arbitrary, allowing you to devise your own (something very few people have the courage to do - courage being a virtue that has been gradually destroyed by Christian morality, despite it being something we instinctively value and esteem).

[CavaliersFTW]

If this was about Islam and in the UK the po-po would be breaking his door down right about now.

edit: what i can't stand about people like NdT, is that they get their moral sense and sentiments from Christianity, moralise about them, and then ridicule Christianity as if they have emancipated themselves from it. Charity, humility, diligence (i.e. doing your best for an employer that gives not shit about you, as i've seen many on this site esteem), equality, et cetera. These are only moral virtues to us because Christianity has made them so.

There is a reason Odysseus was a Greek hero despite being so reprehensible to Christian morality. If you aren't religious, then you first need to accept that morality is wholly arbitrary, allowing you to devise your own (something very few people have the courage to do - courage being a virtue that has been gradually destroyed by Christian morality, despite it being something we instinctively value and esteem).
Non-religious people get their morals from humanity and the civilizations around them... morals don't need to come from religious doctrines and religious doctrines didn't come first, morals did, they've been around since long before written languages and religious books existed.

[Blue&Orange]

Neil deGrasse Tyson's brain doesn't exist. He can't see his brain. He can't touch his brain. He can't smell his brain. He can't hear his brain. Therefore, he doesn't have a brain! :pimp:
he just needs to smack his head with a steel pipe to see his brain. Nice effort :roll:

[GimmeThat]

Non-religious people get their morals from humanity and the civilizations around them... morals don't need to come from religious doctrines and religious doctrines didn't come first, morals did, they've been around since long before written languages and religious books existed.


so, as human species become more populated.
books would all eventually die out.

and old knowledges thus render useless

[Dresta]

Non-religious people get their morals from humanity and the civilizations around them... morals don't need to come from religious doctrines and religious doctrines didn't come first, morals did, they've been around since long before written languages and religious books existed.
Right, so from arbitrary and unscientific sources? Thanks for clarifying. Our civilisation is grounded in Christian morality, and our emphasis on individualism is a result of the Protestant Reformation. You can't deny these things. Morality was very different before Christianity, as any analysis of different cultures, and the sheer diversity of barbaric rituals and moral customs throughout human history will show you. You are right that morals came first, but then they were codified in religion, and continue pervade our society (without people even being aware), leading to a stagnation of morality.

[KingBeasley08]

Right, so from arbitrary and unscientific sources? Thanks for clarifying. Our civilisation is grounded in Christian morality, and our emphasis on individualism is a result of the Protestant Reformation. You can't deny these things. Morality was very different before Christianity, as any analysis of different cultures, and the sheer diversity of barbaric rituals and moral customs throughout human history will show you. You are right that morals came first, but then they were codified in religion, and continue pervade our society (without people even being aware), leading to a stagnation of morality.
:applause:

This is why even though I don't follow any personal religion but I have a lot of respect for Christianity. Compare it to the Muslim countries and their definition of morality. Huge difference :lol

[K Xerxes]

If this was about Islam and in the UK the po-po would be breaking his door down right about now.

edit: what i can't stand about people like NdT, is that they get their moral sense and sentiments from Christianity, moralise about them, and then ridicule Christianity as if they have emancipated themselves from it. Charity, humility, diligence (i.e. doing your best for an employer that gives not shit about you, as i've seen many on this site esteem), equality, et cetera. These are only moral virtues to us because Christianity has made them so.

There is a reason Odysseus was a Greek hero despite being so reprehensible to Christian morality. If you aren't religious, then you first need to accept that morality is wholly arbitrary, allowing you to devise your own (something very few people have the courage to do - courage being a virtue that has been gradually destroyed by Christian morality, despite it being something we instinctively value and esteem).

It's quite an odd point to make. The Christian God doesn't exist and so any morals that may have derived from Christianity are human constructs in any case. They were ideally more powerful partly because people feared the consequences of immoral acts. Now we pick and choose based on what we as a society collectively deem to be 'moral'.


:applause:

This is why even though I don't follow any personal religion but I have a lot of respect for Christianity. Compare it to the Muslim countries and their definition of morality. Huge difference :lol

That's because it has been forced to adapt to our present view on morality. Literally interpeted the Bible is a more vicious and disgusting book than the Qur'an. And, indeed, it is responsible for far more deaths historically than Islam is and probably ever will be.

The cherrypicking of what and what not to has rendered the religion superfluous.

[Bandito]

http://financesonline.com/uploads/kobe.jpg

:bowdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9HjNWbJvA
Will rep you when I can.

[Dresta]

It's quite an odd point to make. The Christian God doesn't exist and so any morals that may have derived from Christianity are human constructs in any case. They were ideally more powerful partly because people feared the consequences of immoral acts. Now we pick and choose based on what we as a society collectively deem to be 'moral'.



That's because it has been forced to adapt to our present view on morality. Literally interpeted the Bible is a more vicious and disgusting book than the Qur'an. And, indeed, it is responsible for far more deaths historically than Islam is and probably ever will be.

The cherrypicking of what and what not to has rendered the religion superfluous.
I'm not sure what that first paragraph has to do with anything i said. Just because they are human constructs, doesn't mean people don't believe them for the sole reason that they have been inherited culturally, adopted and adhered to thoughtlessly. To say we 'pick' and 'choose' is idiotic - the Christian virtue of charity is the cardinal virtue of out time. In other words, in the present world, it pays to be an altruist.

You are wrong, it was from the work of theologians that our current morality is derived. It hasn't 'been forced' to adapt to out present view of morality, it created it. Christianity had a natural leaning toward philosophical inquiry as many of its concepts (such as the trinity) don't make much sense, and need to be reconciled. Our present view of morality is no more than the accumulated sentiments of previous generations, passed on through the present generation. Though we now have a state-endorsed morality, where the state indoctrinates children with the moral certainties of the time and calls it 'education.'

It's not an odd point to make, you simply cannot provide a scientific justification for the moral views you adhere to. Morality is wholly arbitrary, and that is why moral progression only comes from those who are deemed criminals in their time, starting with Socrates, and then Jesus. When it becomes codified in state or religious indoctrination it becomes stagnant and unadaptable, leading to degeneration. When conditions change morals should also.

edit: as for your penultimate sentence: that is just a complete falsehood you have plucked out of thin air.

[SCREWstonRockets]

hes just stating facts

[GimmeThat]

A vague attempt at morality, may be ONE who pushes each values in which one inherits to the limit. Even upon ones death, due to the followings.

It may be reversed or have aspects kicked even further

When blindness, in which other may describe as faith


Extend its volume

[BurningHammer]

hes just stating facts
This. And they don't insult anyone unless you fall into his first joke.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

Just being a prick really, isn't he? What good does this do for anyone except to stroke his own ego?

Agree with the poster who said they'd be much more impressed with him if he was anti-Muslim. If he's so confident and has to insist on ragging on religions... Why not go after them all?

[navy]

If this was about Islam and in the UK the po-po would be breaking his door down right about now.

edit: what i can't stand about people like NdT, is that they get their moral sense and sentiments from Christianity, moralise about them, and then ridicule Christianity as if they have emancipated themselves from it. Charity, humility, diligence (i.e. doing your best for an employer that gives not shit about you, as i've seen many on this site esteem), equality, et cetera. These are only moral virtues to us because Christianity has made them so.

There is a reason Odysseus was a Greek hero despite being so reprehensible to Christian morality. If you aren't religious, then you first need to accept that morality is wholly arbitrary, allowing you to devise your own (something very few people have the courage to do - courage being a virtue that has been gradually destroyed by Christian morality, despite it being something we instinctively value and esteem).
Laughable assertion. There are many societies not rooted in Christianity that provide the same exact moral virtues.

The truth is we dont know how society would be without religion and in Americas case predominately Christianity. Let's not rewrite history and assume the positive/negative would occur to fit our agendas.

[DonDadda59]

What did he say that was so offensive to people? Whole lot of sore sphincters over nothing. :facepalm

[BurningHammer]

QUESTION: ThIs year, what do all the world's Muslims and Jews call December 25th? ANSWER: Thursday
Reminds me of this classic song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOhKQyRAo6k

[DCL]

NdGT has a cool sense of humor

[Dresta]

Laughable assertion. There are many societies not rooted in Christianity that provide the same exact moral virtues.

The truth is we dont know how society would be without religion and in Americas case predominately Christianity. Let's not rewrite history and assume the positive/negative would occur to fit our agendas.
Care to provide any examples? European colonialism and the American dominated UN has codified and thus spread these values close to world-wide

It is not at all a laughable assertion. And you would know that if you had ever read much history or philosophy.

I'm not fitting any agenda: i am not a Christian, but that doesn't mean our moral ideals aren't largely derived from Christianity. That so much of our culture and language has been derived straight from the bible, and that the Protestant Reformation was the catalyst from which all future liberal and individualist doctrines developed. The concept of equality was a laughable one in most of the world before this point. It is you who is denying this to fit your own agenda, and your unwillingness to admit how much Christianity still clouds your thinking and moral sentiments, without you even being aware of the fact. Even the Magna Carta (and later the English common law - which was part of the basis drawn upon by the American founders in establishing their own law) was heavily influenced by Christian theology. In fact, Paine justified the American revolution using biblical rhetoric in Common Sense. 'Inalienable rights' - i.e. rights conferred from above provided the basis for American independence. Even declaring these 'self-evident' (because they certainly are not) is rooted in Christian theology. Montesquieu's work (a huge influence on the founders) was also considerably influenced by Christianity.

So no, it isn't ridiculous to say morality would be completely different without Christianity - how could it not be?

edit: if you don't know the Bible then you don't properly know or understand your own language and cultural heritage. Even the most outspoken atheists such as Christopher Hitchens were very aware of this fact (and he mentioned it himself many times). I don't even like Christian morality as it is weak and servile, but it is still predominant.

[MavsSuperFan]

Neil deGrasse tyson:applause: :applause: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Also he has clearly always been disdainful of adults who believe fairy tales

One of the many reasons I am a fan of his

[Dresta]

Neil deGrasse tyson:applause: :applause: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Also he has clearly always been disdainful of adults who believe fairy tales

One of the many reasons I am a fan of his
Yet you believe so many fairy-tales it is difficult to know where to start :confusedshrug:

Your understanding of US politics and its history, for example, is pure fantasy (thinking the word liberal has a tangible meaning, for example). Sometimes your naivet

[Take Your Lumps]

To be fair, Isaac Newton was quite the badass mfer and deserves to be worshipped on the 25th of December :bowdown:

[Stempel, HERB]

[QUOTE=Dresta]Yet you believe so many fairy-tales it is difficult to know where to start :confusedshrug:

Your understanding of US politics and its history, for example, is pure fantasy (thinking the word liberal has a tangible meaning, for example). Sometimes your naivet

[JEFFERSON MONEY]

Dresta, thanks for the insight and fresh look at things. You're right it just reeks of betraying the hand that feeds and a lack of self awareness on one's roots.

But don't you think that parables such as Christ's 40 days and 40 nights (resisting temptation from Satan WHILE fasting in a desert alone)

The entire quick scene where he goes in makes a cord of whips and throws the feasting people out of their houses. (Stands alone against the Pharisees)

where they state amongst your families I shall put 2 against 3 and 3 against 2. (The same reason Neville in Harry Potter was praised by Dumbledore.... risking the fear of ostracization from their kin)



Fear the Lord and need not fear anything else (Literally calling upon one to rid themselves of ALL FEARS save the Divine)

Are beacons of courage.

The actions of Moses in standing up against his brother ramses and leaving behind what he knew in other to salvage his people and venture into the unknown.


Show a clear symbolic value of suspending fear for the sake of executing a more noble task?

Was Jesus not a compete renegade towards the Pharisees and Romans? Standing up for what he believed in despite the oppressors? Freeing that whore that the people brought to punish him for their own sadistic pleasure?

Granted there is no doubt that the Church... and Mosques as well degenerate the human spirit into being bumbling apologetic types with their constant shaming and philandering for vices... but you're being a bit too harsh here on in my opinion, the essence of the faith and not directing your criticism to the corrupt vessels of it

Also would you be kind enough to direct me to your favorite sources of Hume and Neitzche? Much obliged

[eriX]

Right, so from arbitrary and unscientific sources? Thanks for clarifying. Our civilisation is grounded in Christian morality, and our emphasis on individualism is a result of the Protestant Reformation. You can't deny these things. Morality was very different before Christianity, as any analysis of different cultures, and the sheer diversity of barbaric rituals and moral customs throughout human history will show you. You are right that morals came first, but then they were codified in religion, and continue pervade our society (without people even being aware), leading to a stagnation of morality.

didn't know that our 'civilisation' only applies to countries with the majority being Christian. Guess those civilisations around the world must not have any morals before they came into contact with Christianity :bowdown:

[Dresta]

Dresta, thanks for the insight and fresh look at things. You're right it just reeks of betraying the hand that feeds and a lack of self awareness on one's roots.

But don't you think that parables such as Christ's 40 days and 40 nights (resisting temptation from Satan WHILE fasting in a desert alone)

The entire quick scene where he goes in makes a cord of whips and throws the feasting people out of their houses. (Stands alone against the Pharisees)

where they state amongst your families I shall put 2 against 3 and 3 against 2. (The same reason Neville in Harry Potter was praised by Dumbledore.... risking the fear of ostracization from their kin)

Fear the Lord and need not fear anything else (Literally calling upon one to rid themselves of ALL FEARS save the Divine)

Are beacons of courage.

The actions of Moses in standing up against his brother ramses and leaving behind what he knew in other to salvage his people and venture into the unknown.

Show a clear symbolic value of suspending fear for the sake of executing a more noble task?

Was Jesus not a compete renegade towards the Pharisees and Romans? Standing up for what he believed in despite the oppressors? Freeing that whore that the people brought to punish him for their own sadistic pleasure?

Granted there is no doubt that the Church... and Mosques as well degenerate the human spirit into being bumbling apologetic types with their constant shaming and philandering for vices... but you're being a bit too harsh here on in my opinion, the essence of the faith and not directing your criticism to the corrupt vessels of it

Also would you be kind enough to direct me to your favorite sources of Hume and Neitzche? Much obliged
yes, Jesus and Moses (and Socrates) were all renegades and criminals of their time because they challenged the moral status-quo. This is why Nietzsche argues that all moral progress must come from criminals, or men who are viewed as deviant or immoral. Spinoza (in my view one of the greatest ethicists) was persecuted and branded as an evil heretic also - the list is likely endless.

My main opposition to Christian morality is that it is essentially anti-life, and that if it were adopted by every person in the world, the human race would soon cease to exist. I don't like anything that degrades our present existence as i think it most likely to be the only one we've got. Christian morality is subservient, and thus the ideal morality for slaves and the oppressed (it makes virtues of their being oppressed). But a strong and independent mind would be mentally crippled if he couldn't let go of these pre-acquired sentiments and attempt to push beyond them, to carve out a morality for the future (because morality is not static, and the moral certainties of today will be laughed at in 100+ years).

The best sources of Nietzsche and Hume when it comes to moral understanding are the Genealogy of Morals for the former, and An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals for the latter. Though with Nietzsche, the Dawn of Day may be a better place to start (the genealogy can be difficult to grasp first time round without reading the Dawn - twas the first one of his books I read and didn't grasp a lot of it). Their theories are actually quite similar, even if their demeanours and styles are polar opposites. Hume puts a particular emphasis on efficacy - i.e. if an action is seen to be beneficial it is called good, and if harmful it is called bad. The problem is, as the world changes what is and is not beneficial changes, almost always prior to morality. Thus the 'criminals' who bring progress emerge.


didn't know that our 'civilisation' only applies to countries with the majority being Christian. Guess those civilisations around the world must not have any morals before they came into contact with Christianity :bowdown:
:rolleyes:

Another person who either didn't read or who is incapable of comprehending what i wrote. Where did i say Christianity pre-dates morality - please point this out to me?

Other civilisations have morals and customs, of course, but they are different to ours (because there is no such thing as universal and absolute morality), and this is a consequence largely of different religious backgrounds. Western thinking is certainly characterised by an increased emphasis on the self (deriving from Luther, and his propounding of a personal and individual relationship to God, and then through his and other theologians influences on future philosophers lie Descartes).

Compare this with the East-Asian approach, and its increased emphasis on a sense of identification with the whole, which can also be explained by different structure of their religions and thus philosophical outlooks, as Taoism purports 'the highest man is without self'. These religious differences are the reason why the Japanese were so long willing to kill themselves over mere matters of honour, and engage in kamikaze attacks to protect the whole (or beehive, as the analogy went). Could also explain why they're so hostile to immigration - they have a communal bond and willingness to sacrifice for the whole that people in Western nations just do not share. There are obviously exceptions, but this is the general rule/

This is only one example of many. And i'm tired of explaining this to people who can't even read. I suggest you go and read some books on the matter and educate yourself, because at the moment, you're only wasting my time.

[boozehound]

The only tweet that seems like it could be offensive is the pagan one... The others seem very harmless imo

Really he's just trying to enlighten us with truths like he says, not troll religion, I don't think NDT is the type that cares to "troll" religion
what is offensive about it? The shopping holiday part? The rest of it is legit fact. Christmas is only celebrated when it is because of the birth of the sun (solstice), an observable phenomena celebrated by most cultures around the world in one way or another. The euro xmas is definitely derived from celtic and nordic solstice (long winter, yule) celebrations as are many of the specific xmas traditions.

[~primetime~]

what is offensive about it? The shopping holiday part? The rest of it is legit fact. Christmas is only celebrated when it is because of the birth of the sun (solstice), an observable phenomena celebrated by most cultures around the world in one way or another. The euro xmas is definitely derived from celtic and nordic solstice (long winter, yule) celebrations as are many of the specific xmas traditions.
Yeah I know it is fact, i was just saying that particular tweet is the only one that I can see Christians being offended at. That Christmas wasn't about Christ before or after. Started as pagan, ended as shopping.

The other tweets seem very harmless...

The tweet pointing out that Muslims and Jews don't celebrate Christmas isn't enlightening anyone, I'm actually surprised NDT thought that was worth tweeting.

[boozehound]

European Christmas isn't even celebrated on the same day in every country. The dates were probably derived from the assumed date of death of Jesus.
not sure where you get that idea. Its pretty well documented that the placement of christmas during the end of december is due to the church trying to subsume pagan holidays into christian ones.

Do you mean that All Kings Day (the actual 12th day of chrismas, jan 6th) is the more important day in most of southern europe?

Also, I am not sure how knowing when his death was would let you tie his birth to a time of the year?

[rufuspaul]

what is offensive about it? The shopping holiday part? The rest of it is legit fact. Christmas is only celebrated when it is because of the birth of the sun (solstice), an observable phenomena celebrated by most cultures around the world in one way or another. The euro xmas is definitely derived from celtic and nordic solstice (long winter, yule) celebrations as are many of the specific xmas traditions.

I always thought it was a rather brilliant move by the early church to incorporate the pagan solstice celebration when determining where to put the birth of Christ in the liturgical year. It makes perfect sense.

As a Christian I'm not offended by any of NdGT's tweets. I do find it interesting that a world renowned physicist wouldn't have anything better to do than try and troll people on Twitter. Maybe he's lacking something in his life? :confusedshrug:

[~primetime~]

I always thought it was a rather brilliant move by the early church to incorporate the pagan solstice celebration when determining where to put the birth of Christ in the liturgical year. It makes perfect sense.

As a Christian I'm not offended by any of NdGT's tweets. I do find it interesting that a world renowned physicist wouldn't have anything better to do than try and troll people on Twitter. Maybe he's lacking something in his life? :confusedshrug:
It doesn't feel like him tbh

I've watched videos of NDT ranting about how he hates it that athiests claim him as one of them, and how he prefers the title agnostic, because he said the word atheist implies that he is active doing atheist type things which he dislikes because he isn't on a mission to prove or disprove anything in relation to god or religion.

IDK, maybe he is changing his focus

[No.45]

"Imagine a world in which we are all enlightened by objective truths rather than offended by them"

I find this the most intriguing. This is a statement that offends many people I meet: the idea that there is objective truth!

They agree that only science can give us objective truth, but when it comes to morality, i.e., what is good and what is evil, no such truth exists.

It is natural for people to believe in what they find true. For some it's atheism, for others it's Christianity. Both are "beliefs"... science cannot prove or disprove atheism, and science cannot prove or disprove Christianity, because they are stances on meaning that are bigger than what can be "boxed-in" by scientific criteria.

I hope Mr. Neil, by tweeting this, was hoping not to be a troll, but to ignite a search for absolute truth for the meaning of life, the meaning of suffering, why be good and the answers to fundamental questions of human nature...

He's a good scientist, but not a good philosopher.

[knickballer]

I always thought it was a rather brilliant move by the early church to incorporate the pagan solstice celebration when determining where to put the birth of Christ in the liturgical year. It makes perfect sense.

As a Christian I'm not offended by any of NdGT's tweets. I do find it interesting that a world renowned physicist wouldn't have anything better to do than try and troll people on Twitter. Maybe he's lacking something in his life? :confusedshrug:

As a atheist/agnostic that was "born" a muslim I found the comments to be tasteless.. Just screams immaturity to me and who is he to decide what people should believe in.

Again, I'd have respect for him if he'd call out Islam because that would take balls. He would get death threats and alot of shunning. I doubt he'd do that.

[Take Your Lumps]

Can we pass legislation to require a bidet installed in every Christian household?

[the wise man]

Those saying the tweets aren't offensive because they aren't truth are wrong. Truth sometimes offends people. For example, black people have lower iqs than Eurasians and they were enslaving and ****ing each other up when the white man arrived, so they would still the same dysfunctional people in a timeline were the Europeans didn't conquered them. This is true but people don't say it because it offends basketball-americans.

And talking about low iqs, is this guy famous because he helped discover something important, or libtards made him famous because of white guilt, so blackies can feel better?

[rufuspaul]

Those saying the tweets aren't offensive because they aren't truth are wrong. Truth sometimes offends people. For example, black people have lower iqs than Eurasians and they were enslaving and ****ing each other up when the white man arrived, so they would still the same dysfunctional people in a timeline were the Europeans didn't conquered them. This is true but people don't say it because it offends basketball-americans.

And talking about low iqs, is this guy famous because he helped discover something important, or libtards made him famous because of white guilt, so blackies can feel better?


Why do I get the feeling that this dude ^^ sometimes wears a white hood?

[Trollsmasher]

I always thought it was a rather brilliant move by the early church to incorporate the pagan solstice celebration when determining where to put the birth of Christ in the liturgical year. It makes perfect sense.

As a Christian I'm not offended by any of NdGT's tweets. I do find it interesting that a world renowned physicist wouldn't have anything better to do than try and troll people on Twitter. Maybe he's lacking something in his life? :confusedshrug:
that's becaue he isn't one

he has hardly any real scientific work assigned to his name

he doe mostly popular science and science PR (!)

[Dresta]

that's becaue he isn't one

he has hardly any real scientific work assigned to his name

he doe mostly popular science and science PR (!)
Yeah, pretty much the same as Dawkins - both have done very little frontier research, aren't particularly well respected within the scientific community, and are don't do much more than convey scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses.

They are celebrity scientists. They have their uses, but innovative thinking usually isn't one of them.

[bladefd]

Yeah, pretty much the same as Dawkins - both have done very little frontier research, aren't particularly well respected within the scientific community, and are don't do much more than convey scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses.

They are celebrity scientists. They have their uses, but innovative thinking usually isn't one of them.

I can't speak for Dawkins, but NDT is well-respected within scientific community. Sure, some scientists don't like him getting celebrity status even though he hasn't made scientific discoveries himself -- I will not dispute that. That happens in any field or organization or even workplace. Co-worker jealousy is nothing new.

NDT is more of a communicator that is able to simplify scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses. He is very much like Carl Sagan - Sagan didn't make any great discoveries. He was director of SETI, and wrote few great books, but didn't make any huge scientific discoveries. He was also a communicator. Both Sagan and NDT made science accessible to everybody by being able to simplify complex stuff into terms even non-scientific can understand. Some scientists didn't like Sagan for same reason as I mentioned above..

Here you go: http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319992

Watch the videos - you will see what I am talking about.. You need people like that because politicians, lawyers, etc that are in power don't have science degrees.. They need somebody like NDT to explain stuff to them.. Many scientists don't have that 'communication' capability..

[Dresta]

I can't speak for Dawkins, but NDT is well-respected within scientific community. Sure, some scientists don't like him getting celebrity status even though he hasn't made scientific discoveries himself -- I will not dispute that. That happens in any field or organization or even workplace. Co-worker jealousy is nothing new.

NDT is more of a communicator that is able to simplify scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses. He is very much like Carl Sagan - Sagan didn't make any great discoveries. He was director of SETI, and wrote few great books, but didn't make any huge scientific discoveries. He was also a communicator. Both Sagan and NDT made science accessible to everybody by being able to simplify complex stuff into terms even non-scientific can understand. Some scientists didn't like Sagan for same reason as I mentioned above..

Here you go: http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319992

Watch the videos - you will see what I am talking about.. You need people like that because politicians, lawyers, etc that are in power don't have science degrees.. They need somebody like NDT to explain stuff to them.. Many scientists don't have that 'communication' capability..
You just said what i did but in a nicer way.

[dunksby]

Yeah, pretty much the same as Dawkins - both have done very little frontier research, aren't particularly well respected within the scientific community, and are don't do much more than convey scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses.

They are celebrity scientists. They have their uses, but innovative thinking usually isn't one of them.
Creative assholeship falls right up your alley though.

[KyrieTheFuture]

Yeah, pretty much the same as Dawkins - both have done very little frontier research, aren't particularly well respected within the scientific community, and are don't do much more than convey scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses.

They are celebrity scientists. They have their uses, but innovative thinking usually isn't one of them.


I can't speak for Dawkins, but NDT is well-respected within scientific community. Sure, some scientists don't like him getting celebrity status even though he hasn't made scientific discoveries himself -- I will not dispute that. That happens in any field or organization or even workplace. Co-worker jealousy is nothing new.

NDT is more of a communicator that is able to simplify scientific ideas in a way simple enough to be understood by the masses. He is very much like Carl Sagan - Sagan didn't make any great discoveries. He was director of SETI, and wrote few great books, but didn't make any huge scientific discoveries. He was also a communicator. Both Sagan and NDT made science accessible to everybody by being able to simplify complex stuff into terms even non-scientific can understand. Some scientists didn't like Sagan for same reason as I mentioned above..

Here you go: http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319992

Watch the videos - you will see what I am talking about.. You need people like that because politicians, lawyers, etc that are in power don't have science degrees.. They need somebody like NDT to explain stuff to them.. Many scientists don't have that 'communication' capability..


You just said what i did but in a nicer way.


Not really

[bladefd]

btw - it depends on what you mean by respect. NDT knows his physics very well. I mean the dude got a PhD at Columbia university - nothing to sneeze at. He is respected for his scientific knowledge.

He can communicate as good or better than any scientist out there. How many other scientists out there are known for great communication skills? Very few.. Putting aside any field jealousies, he is well-respected overall by the physics world for the things he brings to the table.

Practical work & research papers he might lack in but that's not his specialty or job focus! His job is to get more people interested in science and to expand the field further. Astrophysics is his focus, but he is all gung-ho about all science as a whole.

[MavsSuperFan]

[QUOTE=Dresta]Yet you believe so many fairy-tales it is difficult to know where to start :confusedshrug:

Your understanding of US politics and its history, for example, is pure fantasy (thinking the word liberal has a tangible meaning, for example). Sometimes your naivet

[MavsSuperFan]

lol Sized him up perfectly.

He's silly enough to reply in his own defense. Too stupid and too proud not to do it.
I would honestly appreciate specific examples?
What about my opinions are naive?
What about my understanding of American history is based on fantasy?