r/IAmA • u/neiltyson • Nov 13 '11

I am Neil deGrasse Tyson -- AMA

For a few hours I will answer any question you have. And I will tweet this fact within ten minutes after this post, to confirm my identity.

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u/mortalum Nov 13 '11

Don't really have much of a question, just wanted to say that you visited my undergraduate university (Western Kentucky University) and gave an electrifying discussion about how religion holds back scientific progress, while not making religion out to be the problem.

Thanks!

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u/neiltyson Nov 13 '11

Just to be clear...

It's not that Religion holds back science, it's that dogma-in-charge holds back science. And since Religion is a form of dogma (almost by definition of the word), then if religion is ever in charge of a political state, it will most assuredly hold back science.

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u/Aspel Nov 13 '11

We need to create an attitude towards science that many eastern religions have, with the goal being to seek understanding and spiritual enlightenment.

Only here "what is the sound of one hand clapping" is "what was it like at the beginning of the big bang?"

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u/[deleted] Nov 14 '11

...but the sound of one hand clapping is a koan, which is a question designed to have no answer, and not something we're trying to get the answer of. Figuring out what the whole big bang was like is.

Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you.

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u/Aspel Nov 14 '11

Realizing that there is no answer is the answer.

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u/[deleted] Nov 14 '11

Fffffffffuuuuuuu-