More praise for The Demon-Haunted World “As I close this eloquent and fascinating book, I recall the final chapter title from one of Carl Sagan’s ear… - Carl Sagan

n those cultures lacking unfamiliar challenges, external or internal, where fundamental change is unneeded, novel ideas need not be encouraged. Indeed, heresies can be declared dangerous; thinking can be rigidified; and sanctions against impermissible ideas can be enforced — all without much harm. But under varied and changing environmental or biological or political circumstances, simply copying the old ways no longer works. Then, a premium awaits those who, instead of blandly following tradition, or trying to foist their preferences on to the physical or social Universe, are open to what the Universe teaches.

And what is the evidence for this conclusion? Chiefly, it is the 11th and 12th verses of Luke, Chapter 21, in which Jesus talks about “great signs from Heaven” — nothing like a UFO is described — in the last days. Typically, Lindsey ignores verse 32, in which Jesus makes it very clear he is talking about events in the first, not the twentieth, century.

the extraordinary should certainly be pursued. But extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.