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*********************************************** CARL SAGAN: PROPHET OF SCIENTISM
By David N. Menton
. Carl Sagan has gained international attention through his
popular writings on science and especially through his 13 part
television series "Cosmos". In all of these, Sagan says he
presents only scientific facts or scientific theories supported
by scientific evidence. What has often emerged in his popular
writings and television appearances, however, is only a tissue of
empirical science covering a great bulk of unprovable speculation
liberally laced with Sagan's own philosophical and religious
views of life. Sagan's religion is not so much one of science as
it is of "scientism."
. Scientism is the belief that the assumptions, methods and
even the speculations of science are equally appropriate, if not
essential, for the proper understanding of all knowledge
including religion. Scientism explicitly denies both the special
revelation of truth and the existence of a sovereign,
supernatural and eternal being. In the religion of Scientism,
the Cosmos (matter, energy, time and space) is believed to be
eternal and the only ultimate reality. Scientism teaches that
all things have their being and origin in the intrinsic
properties of nature. It follows that if gods were to exist,
they too would only be a part and product of nature. The social
and philosophical implications of Scientism for man are embodied
in the religion of Secular Humanism. Sagan's scientistic
religious beliefs and pronouncements are well documented in his
own books:
. "Broca's Brain", New York, Random House, 1979
. "The Cosmic Connection", New York, Anchor Press, 1973
. "Cosmos", New York, Random House, 1980
. "Life in the Universe", San Francisco, Holden-Day Inc.,1966
. Sagan, who insists that evolution is a fact not a theory,
that "we (humans) are the products of a long series of biological
accidents" and thus concludes that "in the cosmic perspective
there is no reason to think that we are the first or the last or
the best" ("The Cosmic Connection" p.52). Carl Sagan was a
student of the evolutionist-astronomer Harlow Shapley who once
said "some piously record 'In the beginning God', but I say in
the beginning hydrogen." Shapley appears to believe that
hydrogen is a colorless and odorless gas which, given enough
time, turns into people! Shapley's most famous student reflects
this same atheistic materialism when in his book "Cosmos", Sagan
confidently asserts that "the world was not made by the gods, but
instead was the work of material forces interacting in nature"
(p.177). Naturally, such beliefs have profound implications for
the nature of man, and so it is not surprising when Sagan says of
himself "I am a collection of water, calcium and organic
molecules called Carl Sagan" (p.127). In a logical extension of
his crass materialism, Sagan insists that all of our human traits
- loves and hates, passions and despairs, tenderness and
aggression are simply the result of "minor accidents in our
immensely long evolutionary history" (p.282). In a lame attempt
to find some sense of purpose and meaning in a human
consciousness born of "minor accidents" Sagan proposes that "We
make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by
the depth of our answers" (p.193). As a further extension of
this "boot strap" Sagan maintains that man has evolved by mere
chance to the point where he can now take over and direct his own
evolution (p.320). With this, the ultimate goal of Scientism and
Secular Humanism is finally achieved; man becomes his own creator
and thus "god". One way Sagan believes that man can ensure his
own continued evolution is to rid himself of his violent nature
by encouraging the fondling of infants and sexual activity among
adolescents (p. 331).
. In a recent syndicated interview, Joan Sannders Wixen asked
Carl Sagan about his views on the future of man. Sagan replied
"I feel in order to survive we someday must be able to give up
our allegiance to our nation, our religion, our race and economic
group and think of ourselves more as just a temporary form of
life under the creation of a power beyond our comprehension"
(St.Louis Globe-Democrat, Oct. 6, 1980). Sagan concludes that if
man is to worship anything greater than man himself, it should be
something which amounts to the pagan worship of nature. In his
book "Cosmos", Sagan proposes the stars and the Sun as being a
more worthy object of worship than Jehovah. "Our ancestors
worshiped the Sun, and they were far from foolish. And yet the
Sun is an ordinary, even a mediocre star. If we must worship a
power greater than ourselves, does it not make sense to revere
the Sun and stars?" (p.243).
. Neither does Sagan overlook "mother earth" in his proffered
religion and urges us to listen to her voice as well. "Some part
of our being knows this is from where we came. We long to
return. These aspirations are not, I think, irreverent, although
they may trouble whatever gods may be" ( p.5). In any event,
Sagan appears to think it most unlikely that "the gods" will be
troubled since he reminds us that "it is said that men may not be
the dreams of the gods, but rather that the gods are the dreams
of men" (p.257). In his book "UFO's--A Scientific Debate", Sagan
freely admits that "science has itself become a kind of
religion." In fairness to legitimate science it should be
emphasized that it is Sagan's Scientism that has become a
religion. Empirical science must depend on observability,
repeatablility and testability of all phenomena it would seek to
explain. True science of this kind has never been found to be in
conflict with the Bible.
. Why is it then that so many public schools in our country
manage to get away with teaching the religions of Scientism and
Secular Humanism even in the face of widespread efforts to erect
a "wall of separation" between church and state? Where is the
indignation and litigation of the American Civil Liberties Union
who seem to fancy them selves as the "watch dog" against the
inroads of religion in our public schools? Has the ACLU decided
that there are acceptable and unacceptable religions for our
public schools? Can, indeed, any teacher discuss the origin of
the universe, and particularly the origin of man and his
"values", with out teaching or discussing religion? It seems
unlikely that there can be such a thing as "religion free"
education on many of those subjects that most intrigue man. We
are led to conclude that all schools are to at least some degree
"religious schools", it is only a question of which religion is
being taught.
. Finally, we might ask why Carl Sagan, of all people, was
invited, at considerable expense, to address the recent
conference of Catholic educators and librarians in St.Louis? Are
these educators unaware of Sagan's openly professed beliefs?
Could it actually be that some of these Catholic educators share
these beliefs?
../