Neil deGrasse Tyson, New Atheism's Reluctant Conscript

Carl Sagan would be proud of his spiritual successor, Mr Neil deGrasse Tyson. Tyson has reignited popular interest in astronomy unseen since Cosmos, with an effusive enthusiasm and boyish sense of wonderment. He is a tireless promoter of astronomy, science and skepticism. Like Sagan, he has often avoided direct criticism of religious ideas. Who can blame them? Why be a salesman when you can be a scientist? Why do politics if you can share your passion for knowledge with people? Science can be pure and beautiful but evangelism of whatever sort is usually a shady, cynical, tactical game. Sooner or later though, you just don't have a choice. If you do science, the theists will eventually be at your door, torches in hand, to lay it to waste. In the above video clip from The Amaz!ng Meeting Tyson emphatically describes his disinterest in sparring with religion, and how he was forced to do so. I feel your pain, sir. I wish we did not have to be salesmen and politicians, but we do.