19 Comments

It’s hard to imagine a NASA official not being a scientist like Neil de Grasse Tyson

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Did you read the sidebars? The one on the Family history ends with a note about Nelson's successor. Thanks for reading and weighing in, Barbara!

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Thank you for bringing this to light. I recall press around Dr. Francis Collins and his journey of Christian faith some years ago yet I don't recall if there was any connection to the Fellowship Foundation on the level of a Bill Nelson. Was/is there any connection? It gets disturbing for me when politico's and appointees get too cozy with Jesus if it affects policy or gives cover to or legitimizes dictators. Seems like professing your faith is career enhancing in government these days which means we may see more of it. What I don't yet understand is limitations, other than the establishment clause, which apply. Lines need to be crossed to effect action?

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I'm not aware of any connection. As for the lines...there's virtually nothing in the way of active enforcement. Let alone enforcement. For a lawsuit to have any effect it'd probably need to be much more out-in-the-open and a pattern caught early enough to seek a stop to it. Thank you!

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Support for organizations that file legal action or lobby against activities is my takeaway...https://www.au.org/ and https://ffrf.org/ . I have no idea how effective either are and religious organizations are good at playing the persecution card, blaming America's ills on a lack of faith. I'm a big Sam Harris fan, so...

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It’s hard to imagine a NASA official not being a scientist like Neil de Grasse Tyson or Bill Nye the Science Guy, both atheists, I believe. Does Nelson pray the rockets will take off or is there a crew of engineers calculating trajectories or designing everything right down the space suits.

And Uganda’s leader’s views on sex, whew! I know an Ugandan man, now a US citizen, who has a lot of negative things to say about the treatment of women in that country.

If anyone wants to be religious, they can do it on their own time away from work. I don’t want my taxpayer money going to this. Hmph!

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I had an absolutely brilliant science teacher for two years at college here in New Zealand (8th grade/freshman in U.S.) who was a Baptist minister. We pupils never knew at the time, because he kept those two aspects of his life separated. Did make for a long and very interesting discussion between us at the 5th school reunion.

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All of this religion stuff makes me want to support Freedom From Religion Foundation. That's my newest organization to donate to. Thanks for your consistent reporting on this, Jonathan.

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Ahhh....glad to see you got the credit you deserve.

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FYI, your "yes, I support..." links go nowhere useful. That might explain why people aren't supporting your good work.

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That...would explain it. Thanks so much for flagging this, Martin. Sigh...

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The ability of some to compartmentalize their faith beliefs from their professional knowledge always amazes me. My own brother, a PhD chemist who excelled in all his math and science studies, is a devoted Lubavitcher who has applied his considerable intellect to Torah study for the last half century. I lack both his knowledge and his faith, and consider myself an atheist secular humanist.

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I mean, I prefer a good, healthy compartmentalization, I think...?!? (I think I've also read that some STEM fields are more religious than others. The more the field of study is likely to debunk religious stuff about life and reality, the less likely people who study it are to believe. IIRC.)

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This has left me experiencing somewhat of a rather nasty taste in my mouth. Must be time to turn some Wolf Blass cab sav into salty water.

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Ugh, he’s repulsive. Looks like a typical, right wing fascist GHOUL. How are we being “ruled” by the most unsexy, biggest dork goobers on the planet along with all the equally unsexy redneck meatheads?? This is literally a NIGHTMARE.

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We demand sexy oligarchs!!!

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If you think these people give you the creeps, look up the New Apostolic Reformation. These are the ones that support Trump and pray for his victory over the demons.

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Oh...I'm aware!

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