Dr. Pitts talking about the PHILOSOPHICAL implications of

[nadinbrzezinski]

a planet around another system, capable of holding life... (We have not proven it yet that it can but the evidence is tantalizing)

Micheo Akuka said something similar today as well.

You feel the ripples? Discovery is starting to challenge this amazing view that we were placed here by a loving father to do whatever...

It has started... perhaps we will grow up, FINALLY.

But yes Dr. Pitts, they want to close the science since yes it challenged the old man in the sky theory.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Was listening to really right wing Christian radio the other day, and the asshole on the air

was talking about it's impossible for life to exist anywhere other than earth for the simple reason that it would imply evolution to be true.

Since we all know evolution not to be true, then there can be no life anywhere else in the universe.

And then he answered the obvious question, "But, dude, couldn't God have placed life on other planets in other areas?"

To which he had some answer that was so mindblowingly ignorant, I can't even remember what it was. I mean, way way way waaaaaaaaaaay more ignorant than his answer about why there can't be life anywhere else. That's how ignorant it was.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. If you think science programs are under challenge

just wait... these idiots KNOW they need to close down all research...

Because it is coming (or rather it is out now)

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I believe you - though I think the momentum the rightwing science-haters have generated

is going to fizzle before they can do too much more harm; though if the teabaggers win this election, we're gonna be in a much longer fight.

But you are totally correct - they'd love nothing more than to cut out all research that isn't immediately applicable to military operation, nationalism, or consumerism.

The joy of seeking and searching and knowing just for the sake of the fun of knowing is completely alien to them.

And it's not just the right wing Christians, either - fundamentalist Islam and Judiasm would love, and the fundamentalist capitalism that is so often cloaked as rightwing Christianity would love it as well.

And yes, it is pretty fucking scary.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Fundie is a fundie is a fundie

I have said it here many a times.

I don't care what magical figure in the sky they pray too... for all I care it could be Rama.

But the waves have started.

Four hundred years ago Giordanno Bruno was killed for claiming that there were worlds around other stars with other people... he burned for that.

Today we know that there are many world out there. Little people, little green men, not really. But the announcement that life is beyond this system is very near, five years at most. This scares them to no end. It WILL be a direct challenge to at least three major religions. Or at least the fundies among them.

[meeshrox]

3. Do you mean Michio Kaku? Sounds like something he would talk about...

Love that guy, almost enough to tattoo him on me...almost! :P

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yes he was on the Ed show earlier in the day

the waves have started. They are really shallow right now, but they have.

[meeshrox]

5. Gives me tingles...

we need something big like this to get us back into the mindset of space exploration and curiosity. We've lost that drive as a society and I miss it...

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Oh it will come back

if this gets the kind of push it should... and NOT JUST in the United States. I definitely have to wonder 'bout them recent news we have gotten... UN Ambassador for first contact... curious...

[RainDog]

9. we already know there were other homo genus species that lived on earth when h. sapiens did

and others that came before.

this should also serve as a call to humans to recognize that they can consume themselves out of existence, but it doesn't because people see the one action they take and not the toll all of these actions take on the planet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. This is well beyond what we have done on this world

this is about life AWAY from this SOLAR SYSTEM... and evolution happening under ANOTHER star.

The philosophical implications are huge for three major religions.

The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Of course part of the solution is in the less known Book Two of Genesis...

And humans were created in the image of the GODS....

Oh never mind that one and two are like oil and water... but there is a reason why the Catholic church has gone on record as to life existing out there, and even other brothers and sisters... they know what this could mean.

[BadgerKid]

11. Considering where life is found on our rock,

I would be surprised if there were no other life out there. I am aware that a negative statement like that cannot be proven, but there it is.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Twenty years ago you'd be more or less correct

but with all the extremofiles on this rock... even some that live in the rock substrate under incredible pressures. Point is, we will know, not for sure, but good approximation, as soon as the long range sensors that can actually look at atmospheres ... if this thing has Oxygen and water... chances are pretty good it does have life, or had it fairly recently...