Neil deGrasse Tyson Best Sermon

Illustrated version at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CsjOVqHuho

Neil de Grasse Tyson's famous 2006 science testimonial at the 2006 Beyond Belief Conference, remixed for better visuals: how the Universe "called" to him as a child, and thus he became an astrophysicist; the excitement of learning we are made of stardust. One clip of the original of this video was used in "We Are All Connected" by Symphony of Science

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Tyson
• sermon
• astrophysics
• symphony
• of
• science
• Neil
• deGrasse
• testimonial

[wangsidious]

by African descent you of course you mean all humans right?

[SpecterReflector]

Professor Tyson is a wonderfull citizen of the universe. he is a real astronomer and physicist that is very dedicated to think about the universe in such a true and mystical way, a way that outshines every religous belief. He is not trying to be a scientist by expressing his fascination, he appeals to people with a childlike awe of the universe, and it would be nice if we all felt like that once in a while in our daily lives. then we would'nt fear the unknown, we would be in awe of it.

[runeflame16]

Guy: Want some acidd Neil?? (o_o)

Neil: Acid? pffffttt.. I'm on photoooooons bitch! (*-*)

[Fenorn]

yup, ''I was chosen my the universe'' reminds me of how catholic priests become priests. But then again: Neil is awesome!

[saganemc2]

I'm teared up and proud!

[TheCraich]

And they say that atheists live a life without meaning. Pardon me if I scoff.

[TheCoolMovement]

7:58 Can you see the angry screaming face???

[paul6907]

@alienfighter9 hell yeah!!!

[KPhysicsGeek]

@JWHurwitz one more thing, thinking about that concept you didn't like. "I was called by the Universe." Let's analyze (perhaps) what happened to Neil. He is exposed to a mind altering experience that fills him with awe and wonder. Why? The brain secretes pleasure giving chemicals. Why? Because of the interactions in that molecules in the brain, those same interactions of the rest of the universe, controlled by the laws of Nature. So, I think we can POETICALLY say the universe called Neil

[KPhysicsGeek]

@JWHurwitz I would disagree, I can and do say I am one with math. Those laws of math that apply to everything else apply to me as well.

And besides, what's wrong with spirituality? As Sagan pointed out, "spirit" comes from the Latin, "to breath" and he often used spiritual to describe his experience with science. For me, spirituality is a feeling of connectedness to something bigger, and I think that's what Neil goes for as well.

[JWHurwitz]

@laurijh In the broadest possible terms, new-age spirituality recognizes the universe itself as God, and as an actually theistic God: one that responds to human thoughts and prayers. In so many of his recent talks, Neil seems to veer very close to this. Without out-and-out endorsing it, he does lend it warrant that I don't feel is justified on scientific grounds. I labelled it "nonsense" because it isn't grounded on anything, and leads to odd and untenable implications.

[JWHurwitz]

@KPhysicsGeek Sure, but unrestrained poetic language leads to reification. If you actually were to say you were one with the infinite set of primes, you'd be in the realm of spirituality. I'd prefer to keep my science and mathematics in the realm of intellectual pursuit, and Neil does less and less well.