Right is better than wrong.
Humility is much better and always preferable to arrogance.
However, there is no virtue in being humbly wrong or wrong humbly.
The science and the facts of Global Warming are available to anyone who cares to spend a little time on research and a little time in thought. The factors that play a part in the periodic warming and cooling of our planet are plentiful. Some of the factors that play a part are understood by science and some are not. However, our planet seems to have a self correcting mechanism that always keeps temperatures within certain ranges.
Currently, we are at the warm end of the range, but well within historic ranges based on available temperature recordings and best guesses. However, our knowledge of historical ranges cannot be calculated with the precision necessary for complete accuracy. Also, this warm end of the range has been very beneficial to agriculture and farming in many parts of the world.
In the future, science may better understand the affects of increasing or decreasing green house gases on our planet, like it is understood in a laboratory. However, at this point in time, anyone who advocates the use of the coercive power of government to reduce green house gases, including scientists, politicians, or religious leaders, is just plain wrong. Advocating government intervention with humility doesn’t make the advocate any less wrong or more virtuous.
About Me
- David M. Smith
- I grew up in Arkansas, spent four years in the Marine Corps, graduated from Pepperdine University, married a little late in life, and settled in Long Beach California. We are raising two daughters and I am working as Systems Analyst. I have a few strong beliefs, and many not so strong beliefs about God, but mostly I am thankful for all HE has done for my family and me.
2 comments:
Hi Derek,
Thank you.
Why do you think our religious leaders are so quick to affirm questionable social movements like the ONE Campaign and debatable scientific claims like the greenhouse effect? Is it a lack of education, a lack of analytical ability, a lack of healthy skepticism, a lack of curiosity, common sense, or what?
I suspect many religious leaders are a lot like politicians. They are racing to the front of a parade in order to be affirmed by others who like to lead parades and need affirmation.
There is no doubt in my mind that God expects us to be stewards of our environment. However, I keep thinking about your prior references to the tragedy of the commons. Perhaps there are some public policies that make sense, but increasing the cost of gas in order to fund research funded by government is wasteful nonsense at this point.
I consider myself an environmentalist and a lover of animals. I think animals need to be treated in a way that eliminates or at least reduces human caused suffering. However, I would never, ever, join an organization like PETA. I fear that religions leaders who join forces with the global warming hysteria crowd will end up as discredited as PETA and reflect poorly on the rest of us.
You are very wise and insightful Derek.
Thanks for answering my question. I agree with you. Pastors are much more relational than the average male Christian and therefore much more likely to participate in group think.
It’s also a bit odd that a Pastor would consider Bill Moyer a credible source after all he has done to attack and ridicule orthodox beliefs. Frivolous is an apt description.
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