V.A. Menon asked Neil deGrasse Tyson:

I read two of your books COSMIC QUERIES and STARRY MESSENGER. Both are very thought provoking. Despite the amazing progress made in the field of science and technology a vast majority of the population especially in developing countries are still immersed in superstitious beliefs. Scientific knowledge and scientific thinking do not come down to common man. what could be a solution to this?

Neil deGrasse Tyson All of religion counts as superstition. That alone accounts for six-billion out of the eight-billion people in the world. So the problem is not specifically superstition, it's whether your superstitions override objectively true science in decision you make that affect your health, wealth, and security. Enlightened religious people know when science can and should matter in their lives. Others will suffer.

That being said, the methods and tools of science are responsible to two trending facts in the world -- outside of war zones and isolated epidemics, people everywhere are living longer than ever before. And there's less poverty than ever before. These are good and hopeful signs.

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