Pagan Gods Launched into Space

The latest Jupiter probe from NASA is named Juno, after the name of the wife of Jupiter, Roman chief of the gods.  Launched today (August 5), the Juno spacecraft will use Earth for gravity assist in a complex path, to arrive at Jupiter in 2016, where it will study the largest planet from a polar orbit.  As “part of a joint outreach and educational program developed as part of the partnership between NASA and the LEGO Group to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” according to a press release from the Jet Propulsion Lab, the spacecraft carries 1.5-inch likeness of three figures: Galileo Galileo, who discovered Jupiter’s moons, the Roman god Jupiter, and his wife Juno.

This is no big deal, since many features in the solar system and on Earth are already named after pagan gods, and nobody takes them seriously.  For once, though, we would like to see the Michael Newdows of the world be consistent.  If a figure of Jesus Christ were put on the spaceship, can’t you imagine the outcry in the press?  People United for Separation of Church and State, the ACLU and the atheists of the world would be beside themselves with indignation.  But when pagan deities are installed to “inspire children to explore science,” everyone thinks it’s cute. 

Don’t argue that Roman gods are extinct deities nobody takes seriously.  The atheists don’t take Jesus Christ seriously, either.  Materialists think all religion is bunk.  If so, then they should not support launching bunk into space, especially to influence children.  And to think that a corporate giant would be involved in this government plan is really over the top.  Conservative theists could have a lot of fun with this, calling for separation of paganism and space. 

The third figure, Galileo Galilei was named after something down to earth, like Galilee – the land where Jesus walked and talked, whose divine works were seen by many eyewitnesses, unlike the mythical deities of the pagans.