The Parable of the Rings of Saturn

I grew up believing that Saturn had rings. I learned this from various teachers, my parents, and probably a few television shows. I had no reason to doubt. I just trusted others who seemed to know.

Then one day I took a class in Astronomy. I had a teacher who had a wonderful tool; a telescope. One the size that I had never used before. I was able to look inside this amazing thing and see these beautiful rings that I had learned so much about. I could see them with my own eyes! Oh, they were astounding! I had never realized that I could ever see them for myself! I sat and stared at them for several minutes, not wanting to give the telescope to the next person in line. I wanted so desperately to study their beauty longer. I had to let go of it. But at that moment, I chose to find out more about the rings that other people had studied. Many had much stronger telescopes that I did not have access to. Their pictures were staggering! There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that these rings exist.

Later, I have found out how fast these rings move, what they are made out of, and how thick of a band they are. I determined all these things from others who have studied and have stronger telescopes than I have been able to aquire in my life.

As the years have passed, I still know that there are rings on Saturn. I may not be able to see them right this minute because I do not have a powerful telescope in my hands. But I still know that these rings exist. I know this.

But there are many people who have tried to tell me lately that these rings do not exist, that all these scientists are wrong. That they are imaginary rings. They try to tell me that I am foolish for believing that they are there. I have tried to take them to a planetarium so that they too can see them for themselves but they have refused to look. They feel that they don't want to know for themselves if there truly are rings on Saturn. Just that all of us who believe are irrational and cannot think for ourselves.

It makes me very sad that everyone can't see these rings for themselves. They are magnificent! And I am not the fool, for I have seen them.