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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. 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'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. The [[Barna Group]] found that those who hold to the worldviews of [[agnosticism]] and [[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 the 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>

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]]).  

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]]).  

Sagan also concluded that the variations in color of Mars' surface were not due to seasonal or vegetational effects, but rather were caused by shifts in surface dust caused by windstorms. This was later confirmed by other scientists and subsequent missions to Mars.

Sagan also concluded that the variations in color of Mars' surface were not due to seasonal or vegetational effects, but rather were caused by shifts in surface dust caused by windstorms. This was later confirmed by other scientists and subsequent missions to Mars.

He also recieved the 1994 recipient of the Public Welfare Medal, from the National Academy of Sciences for "Distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.planetary.org/about/founders/carl_sagan.html | title=Carl Sagan | publisher=The Planetary Society | author=The Planetary Society| accessdate=May 14, 2007}}</ref>. The Public Welfare Medal is the highest honor given by the National Academy of Sciences.

He also received the 1994 Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for "Distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare"<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.planetary.org/about/founders/carl_sagan.html | title=Carl Sagan | publisher=The Planetary Society | author=The Planetary Society| accessdate=May 14, 2007}}</ref>. The Public Welfare Medal is the highest honor given by the National Academy of Sciences.

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

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

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 [[Atheism|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>

From a religious point of view, Sagan was an [[Atheism|atheist]] or an [[agnostic]] depending upon how it is interpreted.  In practice he was an atheist, but as a scientist he could never say with certainty that evidence currently unknown couldn't arise 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>

Interestingly, the ending of ''Contact'' does imply, to some extent, the existence of a Universal Creator. The novel concludes {{Cquote|The universe was made on purpose ... In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature ... there is an intelligence that antedates the universe.}}

Interestingly, the ending of ''Contact'' does imply, to some extent, the existence of a Universal Creator. The novel concludes {{Cquote|The universe was made on purpose ... In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature ... there is an intelligence that antedates the universe.}}

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>

Sagan had a notable effect on the space program, being the man who conceived the first written message to go into space, on gold plaques attached to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft. Later, he would be a part of the team that assembled golden records, containing information on Earth's culture and daily life, that would go out with the Voyager space probes later.

Sagan had a notable effect on the space program, being the man who conceived the first written message to go into space, on gold plaques attached to the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft. Later, he would be a part of the team that assembled golden records, containing information on Earth's culture and daily life, that would go out with the Voyager space probes.

==Kuwait Oil Crisis==

==Kuwait Oil Crisis==