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<small>(picture obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Sagan_Planetary_Society.JPG Wikimedia commons], [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Sagan_Planetary_Society.JPG Public domain picture])</small>]]

<small>(picture obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Sagan_Planetary_Society.JPG Wikimedia commons], [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Sagan_Planetary_Society.JPG Public domain picture])</small>]]

'''Carl Sagan''' (1934-1996) was a [[liberal]] professor of [[astronomy]] at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca, New York, who became a celebrity on television and a vocal advocate for increased searches for intelligent life in outer space.  In addition, Carl Sagan was an agnostic.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/people/ps/Carl_Sagan.html</ref> ''Time'' magazine reported that Carl Sagan "talked with [[Jimmy Carter]] about such esoteric matters as [[black hole]]s and [[exobiology]] (the speculation that [[extraterrestrial life]] exist)."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951539,00.html Frederic Golden, "The Cosmic Explainer," Time.com 20 Oct. 1980.]</ref> He was instrumental in the development of Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence([[SETI]]) which has cost American taxpayers money with no real prospects of any return. The speculative field of [[exobiology]] often assumes that [[evolution]] occurred despite [[evolution|the lack of evidence and counter evidential nature of evolutionary claims.]]

'''Carl Sagan''' (1934-1996) was a [[liberal]] professor of [[astronomy]] at [[Cornell University]] in Ithaca, New York, who became a celebrity on television and a vocal advocate for increased searches for intelligent life in outer space.  In addition, Carl Sagan was an agnostic.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/people/ps/Carl_Sagan.html</ref> ''Time'' magazine reported that Carl Sagan "talked with [[Jimmy Carter]] about such esoteric matters as [[black hole]]s and [[exobiology]] (the speculation that [[extraterrestrial life]] exist)."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951539,00.html Frederic Golden, "The Cosmic Explainer," Time.com 20 Oct. 1980.]</ref> He was instrumental in the development of Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence([[SETI]]).

Carl Sagan was also an avid [[marijuana]] smoker who claimed marijuana gave him scientific insights.<ref>http://cosmologytalk.tribe.net/thread/7e25b81c-2529-44c6-b388-f926c2475e6a</ref>  

Carl Sagan was also an avid [[marijuana]] smoker who claimed marijuana gave him scientific insights.<ref>http://cosmologytalk.tribe.net/thread/7e25b81c-2529-44c6-b388-f926c2475e6a</ref>  

Sagan's avid pot smoking and [[agnosticism]] no doubt inspired Sagan's [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] fantasies that he foisted on his gullible fans.  For example, Sagan alleged that [[evolution]] was a "fact".<ref>http://www.creationdefense.org/57.htm</ref>  [[Thomas Henry Huxley]], the English biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his vehement advocacy of [[Charles Darwin]]'s theory of evolution, was an agnostic. In addition, as noted earlier Sagan advocated the boondoggle of taxpayer funded exobiology research. Given that many liberals embraced [[communism]] and continue to hold the spurious notion of [[abiogenesis]], it is not surprising that many agnostics and atheists embraced Sagan's pseudoscience (see also: [[Causes of atheism]]). The [[Barna Group]] found that those who hold to the worldviews of [[agnosticism]] and in [[atheism]] were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/[[bisexuality]].<ref>http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard</ref>

Sagan was a main advocate for the scientific theory of [[evolution]]. In addition, as noted earlier Sagan advocated government funded exobiology research.

Professor Sagan, like many [[liberal]] scientists throughout the 20th century, believed that intelligent life may exist on planets other than Earth.  <blockquote>"The significance of a finding that there are other beings who share this universe with us would be absolutely phenomenal, it would be an epochal event in human history," Sagan declared.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/ Norma Quarles, "Carl Sagan Dies at 62," CNN.com 20 Dec. 1996.]</ref></blockquote>

Carl Sagan was one of the first and foremost professors of the theory that the surface of Venus is in fact hot, arid and dry. He studied radio emissions from Venus and concluded that the surface temperature had to have been about 900° Farenheit. He was also a contributer to the [[Mariner]] missions to Venus, which confirmed his theories.

 

Sagan also was an early promoter of the theory that Saturn's moon Titan is covered with oceans of liquid compounds. Sagan also was pivotal in solving the mystery of Titan's reddish glow. Carl Sagan theorized that there must be many organic chemicals constantly raining down on the surface of Titan. He also theorized that Jupiter's moon Europa may have vast subsurface oceans of liquid water. This excited Sagan as there is a great potential for life to inhabit Europa<ref>Detailed information about Sagan's scientific work comes from the primary research articles. Example: Sagan, C., Thompson, W. R., and Khare, B. N. ''[[Titan: A Laboratory for Prebiological Organic Chemistry]]'', Accounts of Chemical Research, volume 25, page 286 (1992). There is commentary on this research article about Titan at [http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/T/Titanprebiotic.html The Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight].</ref> . This theory was later confirmed by the Galileo spacecraft.

 

 

 

Professor Sagan, like many scientists throughout the 20th century, believed that intelligent life may exist on planets other than Earth.  <blockquote>"The significance of a finding that there are other beings who share this universe with us would be absolutely phenomenal, it would be an epochal event in human history," Sagan declared.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/ Norma Quarles, "Carl Sagan Dies at 62," CNN.com 20 Dec. 1996.]</ref></blockquote>

Indeed, Sagan's most popular work of fiction ''Contact'', later made into a movie, was about finding extraterrestrial life.

Indeed, Sagan's most popular work of fiction ''Contact'', later made into a movie, was about finding extraterrestrial life.

To Sagan, there was nothing beyond physical reality as can been by his atheistic claim:

To Sagan, there was nothing beyond physical reality as can be seen by this quote from his famous documentary series, "The Cosmos":

{{Cquote|The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be."<ref>Cosmos series, 1980</ref>}}

{{Cquote|The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be."<ref>Cosmos series, 1980</ref>}}

Professor Sagan would slip in a subtle pitch for [[disarmament]] as he proclaimed his devotion to finding extraterrestrial life:

Professor Sagan would often advocate for peaceful diplomatic resolution by arguing:

{{Cquote|We have looked close-up at dozens of new worlds. Worlds we never saw before. And unless we are so stupid to destroy ourselves, we are going to be moving out to space in the next century," he said. "And if I'm fortunate enough to have played a part in the first preliminary reconnaissance in the [[solar system]], that's a terrifically exciting thing.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/ Quarles]</ref>}}

{{Cquote|We have looked close-up at dozens of new worlds. Worlds we never saw before. And unless we are so stupid to destroy ourselves, we are going to be moving out to space in the next century," he said. "And if I'm fortunate enough to have played a part in the first preliminary reconnaissance in the [[solar system]], that's a terrifically exciting thing.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/20/sagan/ Quarles]</ref>}}

He often made his opposition to nuclear weapons clear.  An episode of Cosmos, "Who Speaks for Earth," dealt with the possibility of nuclear annihilation explicitly.

He often made his opposition to nuclear weapons clear.  An episode of Cosmos, "Who Speaks for Earth," dealt with the possibility of nuclear annihilation explicitly.

From a religious point of view, Sagan was an [[agnostic]] [[atheist]]; that is, one who does not claim to have absolute knowledge about the existence of god, but believes there isn't one. In practice he was an atheist, but as a scientist could never say with certainty that evidence couldn't arise that is currently unknown that would point toward a god force, he is more correctly described as being  agnostic.<ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/324/000022258/</ref><ref>http://www.adherents.com/people/ps/Carl_Sagan.html</ref>

From a religious point of view, Sagan was an [[atheist]] or an [[agnostic]] depending upon how it is interpreted. In practice he was an atheist, but as a scientist could never say with certainty that evidence couldn't arise that is currently unknown that would point toward a god force, he is more correctly described as being  agnostic.<ref>http://www.nndb.com/people/324/000022258/</ref><ref>http://www.adherents.com/people/ps/Carl_Sagan.html</ref>

At the height of his popularity, Sagan became something of a media celebrity, occasionally appearing on popular entertainment programs.  His speaking style became well known, and one phrase of his was often spoofed and referenced in the media&mdash;"'''BILLIONS''' and '''BILLIONS'''"&mdash;with the words emphasized and drawn out, though he never actually used it.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1109.html</ref>

At the height of his popularity, Sagan became something of a media celebrity, occasionally appearing on popular entertainment programs.  His speaking style became well known, and one phrase of his was often spoofed and referenced in the media&mdash;"'''BILLIONS''' and '''BILLIONS'''"&mdash;with the words emphasized and drawn out, though he never actually used it.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1109.html</ref>