Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic? | Big Think

Is Neil deGrasse Tyson atheist or agnostic?
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Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson claims the title "scientist" above all other "ists." And yet, he says he is "constantly claimed by atheists." So where does he stand? "Neil deGrasse, widely claimed by atheists, is actually an agnostic."
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NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.  He is the first occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship of the Hayden Planetarium. His professional research interests are broad, but include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. Tyson obtains his data from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as from telescopes in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and in the Andes Mountains of Chile.Tyson is the recipient of nine honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid "13123 Tyson".Tyson's new book is Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (2017).
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TRANSCRIPT:

Neil deGrasse Tyson: I have to chuckle a little bit when I'm approached by anybody, but in particular journalists, and say, “Are scientist worried that the public is in denial of science or is cherry-picking it?” And I chuckle not because it's funny but because they're coming to me as a scientist when they should be going to everyone. Everyone should be concerned by this, not just scientists. In fact, scientists will just continue as they're doing. You might withdraw funding, but then there isn't any science done—okay.

You are transforming your civilization if you choose to either stand in denial of science or withdraw science funding from those who are actually doing the research. Everything we care deeply about that defines modern civilization pivots on innovations in science, technology, engineering and the math that is the foundational language for it all. Everything: transportation, your health, your communication through smart phones that talk to GPS satellites to find out where Grandma is. To make a left turn to find her address or the nearest Starbucks. Whatever is your need, whatever is your want, the emergent innovations in science and technology are not only enabling it, they are creating for you solutions to challenges you always lived with but never thought that they could be solved.

The message is clear: if you do not understand what science is and how and why it works—by the way, I'm not even blaming you. I look back as an educator, I look back to K through 12, kindergarten through 12th grade, and I say there's something missing there. If you, as an educated adult, can say, "This is what these scientists agree to, but I don't agree with them." If that sentence even comes out of your mouth it's like: oh my gosh.


Okay, well, we live in a free country, you can say and think what you want. I'm not even going to stop you. But if you rise to power and have influence over legislation and that legislation references what you think science is but is not, that is a recipe for the unraveling of an informed democracy. So I'm not even going to blame you. It's not your fault. I'm an educator. Let's go back to K through 12.

Somewhere in there while you're learning about reading, writing, and arithmetic and while you have a class in earth science and biology and chemistry, maybe physics, somewhere in there there needs to be a class, possibly taught every year, on...

[artistdini]

Girl: so what are we?

Guy: i'd rather we explore each other's ideas in real time rather than assign a label to it.

[KpRdS]

so basically Neil doesn't give a sh*t.

[BeachsideHank]

" When one asks "Do you believe in God?", If I say yes or if I say no, you have learned absolutely nothing."
-Carl Sagan

[jimperry]

beautifully said. Agnostic = "I don't know" could not be more perfect.

[soraelkiasking]

"Only "ist" i am is scientist" best answer ever

[chafchak]

He literally just described how I feel.

[bastianbarx]

What he calls "atheism", I would rather call "anti-theism".

[AtamMardes]

I'm an agnostic in general, but I'm an atheist when it comes to the God of the Bible, Allah, Yahweh, Zeus, Romulus, Osiris, or other man-made gods.

[gabrielrangel]

"I don't associate with movements... I think for myself."
Beautiful... just beautifully spoken!

[HumdrumReact]

I was first an Athiest, but then I became Agnostic, because I feel like I am not smart enough to understand anything really. I don't believe in God, but neither do I say "he doesn't exist"

I am not hiding. I am not afraid to be an athiest. I just don't see myself as one. All you athiests in the comment section... I thought athiests was objective. Reasonable. Now, you're annoyed because someone is "wrong" in your opinion. I always thought:

Christians: "If you do not agree, I will dislike you"
Athiests: "I am fine with whatever you believe, but if you want, I would like to discuss it"

That seems to be a lie. For both parts.

[Fanchen]

His description of atheism isn’t quite right. A lack of belief is atheism, you don’t have to actively speak against theism to be an atheist.

[antoniovideos]

"I don't associate with movements... I think for myself."
This should be a movement, so inspiring.

[DissociatedWomenIncorporated]

Are there one or more gods?
*Theists:* Yes!
*Atheists:* No!
*Neil:* Who cares? I have _an amazing universe_ to study!

[amadubah]

“I don’t play golf, is there a word for non golf players” 😂 best line I’ve heard all year no cap

[MrZeroFaith]

*Theist:* "I believe in a God or Gods."
*Atheist:* "I do not believe in a God or Gods."
*Agnostic Theist:* "I believe in a God & I don't think it can be known for certain."
*Agnostic Atheist:* "I don't believe in a God & I don't think it can be known for certain."
*Gnostic Theist:* "I believe in a God & I know it exists."
*Gnostic Atheist:* "There is no God & I know for certain."

Agnosticism only addresses knowledge, NOT belief. You either believe something or you don't.

[kevinsmith]

I highly admire NDT. I just wanted to point out that when non-religious groups gather to discuss policy(political, legislative), it is very important because if laws are written by religious folks, it can sometimes go against everything that free humans deserve and have rights to. Combining religious dogma with secular human rights isn't always a great thing and needs oversight.

[JustAnotherSunny]

I'm an Agnostic Atheist. I don't actively believe in a God and I don't see any evidence to believe in one. But I acknowledge that I do not know everything and I could be wrong.

[zimmothyd]

Agnostic is about knowledge. Theist or atheist is about belief.
He gave a half ass answer that panders more to theists.

[scout]

Tyson never really fails to amuse me by his authenticity as well as his articulation. I love how precise and articulate his message is. As for this matter, as a then "Christian" I can now say that I am an AGNOSTIC.

[mygills]

Interview: Are you atheist or theist

Neil: why do you care?