I have a foreboding of America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time–when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all of the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; with our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.
And when the dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites now down to 10 seconds or less, lowest-common-denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.”
― Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
I idolize Carl Sagan. Definitely one of the 5 people of history I would have dinner with.
I first read The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark about 20 years ago when I took my first faltering steps out of my religious beliefs. The book is definitely worth a second read if I can ever get the time. Carl Sagan was a thoughtful and considerate person from the so-called Silent Generation. I grew to admire his courtesy and composure, especially when in the midst of disagreement. The world would do better with more people like him in it.
What an absolutely perfect characterization of our moment. Dumber and Dumbest.
Well Nobody if he stepped into eternity with the belief that “THERE IS NO GOD” and without Jesus Christ he is now in a Christless hell screaming and crying and gnashing his teeth and wishing he had never been conceived! 😭
Well Anybody, you’ll soon find out when you go and join him.