If mankind had to start over w/ 1 book would we be better off w/ the Bible or the collected works ofCarl Sagan

Answer 1

Sagan has brought more reason, and understanding to the world than the Bible ever has.

The problem for the Christians is that his books are at a High School reading level. (that sisterzeal question inspired this)

He is truly one man I regret never having met.

Answer 2

I'd say Carl Sagan.
The bible is a book establishing morals and good will. It has nothing to do with the knowledge and advancement of life.
If we had to start all over the bible would have no relevance to the future. It would only tell of beliefs in the past. Carl Sagan writings would not only give insight to human beliefs but point us in the right direction in our civilization growing.

I'd hope we would learn from what we once knew rather then learning it over again. There have been many times in history where ancient technologies have been lost and scientists/historians search to understand how they worked.
I wouldn't want to waste centuries of human knowledge and end up back in the Stone age.

Answer 3

I think we'd be better off starting over at the level of the late 20th century rather than the 2nd. Sagan's work is informative, truthful, useful and has contributed to the advancement of human knowledge. The Bible has none of those qualities.

Answer 4

The great thing about the bible is that it is so obviously untrue; it makes no bones about it - it starts right off on the first page making wildly unsupported and absurd claims, making it quite easy to falsify given enough time and data. If we started over with Sagan's work and nothing else, would we not create a false religion, adapted to what we knew? If we did so, how would we eventually move past it, with fewer flaws to refute?

Worse yet would be to have a Christianity that knew about evolution... then they could have a Bible with only superficial mistakes. (that's for the sake of argument; really, the Bible is ridiculous through and through) How would we ever rid ourselves of such a menace?

But as it stands, we have two beautiful and confirmed theories with which, on the first page, no less, we can safely lay the Bible to rest. And then, in a few years, we can look back and laugh.

Answer 5

Oh oh, Sagan, most definitely.

I'm STILL trying to make my way through "The Demon-Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark".

Answer 6

Oh Sagan of course. Slam dunk.

Hell we'd be better off just without either one of them rather than have to have both. If it would be both or neither, I'd take neither. We would eventually figure out the teachings of Carl Sagan, but then we would be bible-free when we got there. Think of the freedom from guilt!!!!! Ahhhhhhh... like taking off a tight pair of pants and putting on your jammies.

Answer 7

I love Carl Sagan, or as I like to refer to him "Uncle Carl." His television series is sometimes replayed on the Science Channel and I love for his voice to lull me to sleep after a long days work...."read me another story Uncle Carl."
His contributions to the world far surpass what is in the bible...it doesnt even contradict itself.
RIP Carl Sagan genius of man

Answer 8

Bible followers have a long and well documented history of persecuting others. The Dark Ages were created by them. Society is at least 600 years behind because of them. To start over with that book would be to enter into a new stone age.

Answer 9

Since I am so late in answering I will just add to the best of my knowledge no one has ever been killed in the name of Sagan, the same can not be said for christ.

Answer 10

I'd like to read "Carl Sagan's Version of the Bible"

Carl Sagan played a leading role in the American space program since its inception. He was a consultant and adviser to NASA beginning in the 1950s, he briefed the Apollo astronauts before their flights to the Moon, and was an experimenter on the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo expeditions to the planets. He helped solve the mysteries of the high temperature of Venus (a massive greenhouse effect), the seasonal changes on Mars (windblown dust) and the reddish haze of Titan (complex organic molecules).

For his work, Dr. Sagan received the NASA Medals for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and for Distinguished Public Service twice, as well as the NASA Apollo Achievement Award.

Asteroid 2709 Sagan is named after him. He was also given the John F. Kennedy Astronautics Award of the American Astronautical Society, the Explorers Club 75th Anniversary Award, the Konstantin Tsiolokovsky Medal of the Soviet Cosmonautics Federation, and the Masursky Award of the American Astronomical Society:

"...for his extraordinary contributions to the development of planetary science... As a scientist trained in both astronomy and biology, Dr. Sagan made seminal contributions to the study of planetary atmospheres, planetary surfaces, the history of the Earth, and exobiology. Many of the most productive planetary scientists working today are his present and former students and associates." He is also the 1994 recipient of the Public Welfare Medal, the highest award of the National Academy of Sciences for "distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare."

Answer 11

Definitely not the Bible.

And while I am a huge fan of the Carl Sagan, I'd go with something like the Magna Carta or the Constitution of the United States. Hmm, I'd probably thrown in Euclid's Elements in there too. That would definitely be a useful book.