A fascinating read for space colony fans

>
>>Well, maybe. But you read this at the end of the introduction
>>
>>In seeking to uncover the hand and will of God in the universe through
>>scientific research and technological experimentation, the
>>extraterrestrial millennialist ideology has helped to guide technology
>>and our assumptions about technology's advance to create the angry,
>>merciless, and capricious God of surveillance and imminent doom at the
>>heart of of a dark and semi-conscious will to destroy the Earth and
>>liberate a minuscule Christian portion of humanity into a lifeless sky.
>>
>>And you wonder about the 'fantastic' part. But I'll bet it was a big
>>hit at UT Austin. Dadgum hipppies.
>>
> The author tries to trace the religious influences of several key
> figures of space history and relates their 'grand design'
> philosophies to earlier passionate movements. There is a lot to think
> about in the material he has gathered.

True. As I get into it I find it's not so bad. At the very least the
author can write, which is not always the case for things that I have to
read.

> I think a major point he is making is that the attempts of elements
> of the intelligensia to influence the destiny of the Human Race
> towards Grand Goals are largely modern manifestations of ancient
> passions traditionally expressed in religious terms, cloaked in the
> conceptual frameworks we feel comfortable with in the era of Science.
> What I disagree with is his concluding pessimistic attitude toward
> the actual possibilities of Space Migration. Perhaps I too am
> betraying my blind faith...
>
> Don

We all believe in something, sometimes blindly, sometimes not. As I
plow through this I see room in his works for 'rocketeers' and God
struck men of science but little room for guys (maybe like me) who, yes,
see space as an interesting place and a step upward for our species but
who are also intent on making a living around the idea.

Brian Dunbar
System Administrator
Liftport - The Space Elevator Company

brian.dunbar@...
aim: bdunbar1967

this email is: [ ] bloggable [x] ask first [ ] private

Remember.
But move forward, too. Light a candle, yes. But also drive a rivet.
~Lileks