Daddy's little Josh wanted to know all about the new Mars probe, and just what the scientists were trying to do besides spend billions and billions of Earth dollars. Daddy got through to the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, and had a wonderful and enlightening talk with the Director of the RPL, Dr. B. Diogenes, who agreed to speak only off the record.

Throw Off the Shackles

Daddy: "Dr. Diogenes, what is the main reason for the program you administer -- what is it that drives you and your 60,000 employees to do what you do--explore the moon and the planets? Is it your hope and belief that you can make discoveries of new minerals and such, and develop processes in space that can aid us all here on Earth, to cure diseases, improve productivity and clean up the environment?

Dr. Dio: Daddy, do you really believe all that -- what have you been reading, International Geographic? I suppose there are a few scientists out there on the lunatic fringe that still think those things are possible, but nah, those of us who have been here for a while, we got over that a long time ago. We are after the real prize now--and we are determined to get it. Truth! Proof! Of Origins, what else? Finding some tiny shred of Life--out there--just a tiny bit, that's all we need! This is what it is all about! This is our hope, our dream. If we succeed, we throw off the shackles of all this Biblical nonsense -- emancipate the entire world! A New Age it will truly usher in!

And the best part is, in the middle of all these open struggles of "separation of church and state", where there are intense battles over a few pennies being spent in the name of "religion" a Nativity Scene in front of City Hall, etc. -- or over whether a line of two of scripture gets by the government school censors -- we keep the whole world focused on our evolutionary hopes -- accepting our reality as the basis of "science", though we have not a shred of real evidence to support our thesis.

Listening for sounds from the Galaxy or beyond, space probes all over the solar system--one giant metaphysical (more religion than science) research program -- we get to practice our religion, the hope of a universe without need of a God, and everybody pays for it. Is this a great nation or what?

Someday we will find the evidence ... that proves we are not alone in the vastness of space!"

Daddy: "But that is exactly what the Bible teaches all the way through -- we are not alone! Thanks, Dr.."