Freethought & Rationalism Archive

nogods4me · 07-13-2006, 12:04 PM

Gravitationism is certainly an attractive religion...

anthrosciguy · 07-13-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogods4me

Gravitationism is certainly an attractive religion...

Heavy, man.

Jukia · 07-13-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogods4me

Gravitationism is certainly an attractive religion...

Made my afternoon. Thanks

DanBZ · 07-13-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chieftain

'Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department', says Werner von Braun.

It's good to meet a fellow Tom Lehrer fan on this forum.

Machiavelli · 07-13-2006, 01:22 PM

If it's a religion, then Biology teachers salaries should be tax free.

Lazarus Long · 07-13-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnyboy

Does somebody of you know, what kind of christian Werner von Braun was?

Wikipedia says that he was raised Lutheran:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

Quote:

Upon his Lutheran confirmation his mother gave him a telescope, and he discovered a passion for astronomy and the realm of space.

Adherents.com says he was Lutheran as well:

http://www.adherents.com/people/pv/W...von_Braun.html

Quote:

Wernher von Braun was one of the most influential scientists and engineeers of the 20th Century. His theories, leadership and technical skills allowed America to land men on the moon. Wernher von Braun was a Lutheran who as a youth and young man had little interest in religion. But as an adult he developed a firm belief in the Lord and in an the afterlife. He was pleased to have opportunities to speak to peers (and anybody else who would listen) about his faith and Biblical beliefs.

LL

David B · 07-13-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus Long

His oft-stated defence was that it was the way of things...he was told to use slave labour, so he did. He joined the Nazi party because pretty much anyone of any influence had to, and if he wanted to continue his work, he had no choice. He joined the SS because he was invited to do so, and to turn down such an invitation would be political suicide. That's his story, he stuck to it, and it is plausible enough.

He was also jailed temporarily for allegedly making "defeatist" statements that the war was not going well and was mismanaged by Berlin. They released him because they needed him working on the V-2 so that they could turn the tide of the war because it was not going well....oh, the irony....

But even despite the questions about his Nazi / SS / slave labour connections, the fact is that the man's field had nothing to do with the evolution vs creation debate (or non-debate, really.) He may have been a rocket scientist, but that does not make his views on god and creation any more compelling.

LL

His questionable morality does not make him less of a great technologist, either.

His defense is less than compelling, but plausible.

But what it boiled down to, I think, was that he was a guy obsessed with rockets, and prepared to do what it took to indulge his obsession.

I suspect there have been people with that sort of outlook on both the US and Soviet ICBM programs.

David b

FFT · 07-13-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanBZ

It's good to meet a fellow Tom Lehrer fan on this forum.

It is indeed. I was wondering if that would come up in the thread.

Quote:

Gather 'round while I sing you of Wernher von Braun,
A man whose allegiance
Is ruled by expedience.
Call him a Nazi, he won't even frown,
"Ha, Nazi, Schmazi," says Wernher von Braun.

Don't say that he's hypocritical,
Say rather that he's apolitical.
"Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down?
That's not my department," says Wernher von Braun.

Some have harsh words for this man of renown,
But some think our attitude
Should be one of gratitude,
Like the widows and cripples in old London town,
Who owe their large pensions to Wernher von Braun.**

You too may be a big hero,
Once you've learned to count backwards to zero.
"In German oder English I know how to count down,
Und I'm learning Chinese!" says Wernher von Braun.

I'm going to have to find that CD and listen to it.

DanBZ · 07-15-2006, 02:21 PM

You should probably buy his complete works, "The Remains of Tom lehrer", if you don't already have any of his other CD's.

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07-13-2006, 12:04 PM	#21
nogods4me Contributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 17,432	Gravitationism is certainly an attractive religion...

07-13-2006, 01:22 PM	#25
Machiavelli Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South Georgia Posts: 1,676	If it's a religion, then Biology teachers salaries should be tax free.

07-15-2006, 02:21 PM	#29
DanBZ Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 245	You should probably buy his complete works, "The Remains of Tom lehrer", if you don't already have any of his other CD's.

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