The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

I first read this book when it was new, enjoying it immensely. With Biblio, a used copy is a bargain. In the years now passed, "The Demon-Haunted World" has lost none of its value. Thanks to the wisdom and writing skill of its author, Carl Sagan, this book is a delightful refutation of the superstition that pervades many societies. His "baloney-detector" is classic; it can be compared to the logic courses provided in many first-year studies in Catholic colleges. On the one hand, the Christian faith and its elucidation, theology, uses its own method of thinking. Certainly, in the Catholic and the neo-scholastic tradition in particular, sound theology can stand up well, to the thinking person. For example, the Catholic Church, since the early twentieth century, has not only accepted evolution but provided a sensible rationale for it from the standpoint of faith. That rationale is based on a biblical hermeneutic that's very different from that of the Protestant fundamentalists. Should the author of this book be exposed to such theology, I think he would be open to it. On the other hand, Sagan is a master at expounding his own empirical philosophy and the scientific method itself. Both philosophy and method are critical for proper experimentation and knowledge of the sciences. The author is undoubtedly correct in that the natural wonder of the universe itself is far more inspiring than the fantasies that preoccupy so many. Above all, for its clear, cogent, and compelling writing, this book is well worthy of recommendation. --Michael Gilligan, Ph.D.