Global Warming: The Left's Anti-Religion

Global Warming (GW) is increasingly being called the religion of the Left. While many Leftists do seem to embrace the cause with all the fervor one usually sees in religious fanatics, as currently comprised, I think that GW actually functions more as a non- or anti-religion for many on the Left.

Since man discovered he could think, he has been wrestling to define himself within the context of a larger world he cannot fully comprehend. Over time, different religions have served that purpose well for many groups. But the secular humanists of the Left abhor religion. Their desire is to not believe in anything being supreme to man. And that speaks to how I believe they came to embrace GW in the manner they have today.

The world has increased in warmth about one-half a degree centigrade in the last 100 years. Why? Frankly, there are some good emerging ideas - a combination of the Sun, water vapor and who knows what number of interactive processes. But accepting that our knowledge is still very limited, putting us at the mercy of vast, not fully knowable cosmic forces is the very thing the Left fears when it comes to religion - it demands one give up a certain amount of control. It also resigns one to being small, insignificant, without some grand calling, or cause. That position often exposes one to increased existential anxiety, as your, and the planet's fate are not ultimately in your own hands.

So what do they do? They embrace a human cause for GW. That way they continue to remain, in their minds, supreme, or in control. If it is our fault, we can fix, or control it. If there's nothing we can do about it, we may be forced to grab onto some other system of faith to ease our minds. God forbid, saith the Left.

The danger we face is twofold. Neo-Marxists are capitalizing on the GW movement to a significant degree. And, as can happen with any religion, the Left is likely to cling to their stilted view of this issue more strongly than they've ever clung to anything else; at least until the next safe haven for their basically weak minds comes along.

I suppose we should be grateful they're currently fixated on carbon and have yet to take up a belief in, or the practice of radical Islam and jihad. Who knows what direction the half-crazed, spiritually vapid, pillar to post neo-Liberals of today might go next?

Comments

[Purple Avenger]

Faith based science.

[Buzzy]

Actually Dan I feel torn over the ecology of this debate. I'm 100% for using lower emissions energy sources and finding ways to lower emissions from our traditional sources of energy but I'm also 100% against the political agenda that has become attached to this process by the socialist left.

How do I know that theirs is a political agenda and not just an environmental agenda? It's simple, they fight tooth and nail to prevent the nuclear generation of electricity, they fight each and every hydroelectric dam proposed and have not proposed a single bill in legislation which would put a wind turbine or solar panel on a house or business.

It is these same groups that have us mired in traditional forms of energy by opposing cleaner ones. The same people who filed lawsuits to remove wind turbines in California because they MIGHT harm birds. We're months into the Democratic majority in congress and still not one bill that would assist the average American in installing a wind generator, solar panel, or geothermal heat / cooling system in his or her home.

Their answers are always rooted in the same tired and flawed logic of traditional energy sources. Ethanol fillers for petroleum based vehicles only reduce our dependence on foreign oil while they raise the prices of food both here and abroad while doing nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When there are no tortillas available in Mexico should the peasants just "eat cake"? When the sky is brown with pollution can we breathe easier because we bought some of Al Gore's carbon offsets? No and no and yet again no.

Much like the lefts resounding silence on alternatives to the war against Islamofascist terror their lack of any real solution on greenhouse gas emissions shows that their only agenda is money and political power and that man made global warming is a scam.

[Zifnab]

"Global Warming (GW) is increasingly being called the religion of the Left."

Link plz! No self-references, k thx!

[scarshapedstar]

The Right insists that human activity could never, ever, not even in a million years, affect the world's climate. Even if all 12 billion of us are driving cars by mid-century, it won't change a thing, laws of thermodynamics be damned. And, yes, I do remember Rush saying exactly this in his book: the earth is just "too big" for us to actually affect it. Rush knows full well that while the earth may be "big", the atmosphere is not, and its relative thickness is about that of a sheet of cellophane draped over a globe. Still, he insists that "the earth works in mysterious ways" and carbon dioxide is removed in processes that those dumb ol' scientists just don't see yet, and that these processes will continually accelerate, even as the number of trees continues to decrease.

How is this not equally "religious"?

[Darth Malice]

The alliance of the Dems,Envirowennies,and Islam is a devastating civilization ender......and all we have is the Republicans.....Yep,we are boned!

[Dan Riehl]

we are boned!

Keep it in the Gay thread, Darth!!

[splashtc]

Wow,great movie,it's nice to see rational people speak. I suppose we'll see a resurgence of an old religion,Ra,the egyptian sun god. "It's cloudy ,it's our fault, we have angered the sun, we must all dance around naked to please him/her?....."

[scarshapedstar]

Oh, here's a fun fact for the creationist crowd: the biggest pollution event in history happened a few billion years ago, when cyanobacteria began releasing oxygen (toxic to most microbes) into the atmosphere, killing off 99% of the other species. (Incidentally, this also created all the world's iron deposits.)

Single-celled organisms changed the course of life's history merely by raising the atmospheric oxygen concentration to 1%. Conservatives say that we, the world's dominant species, cannot even conceive of having such an effect.

Huh?

[Darth Malice]

Sorry Dan,I guess the situation being what it is it is very hard to be optimistic,but I am trying......by the way scar it took millions of years to raise oxygen levels.Humans have a pinprick effect on the earth.

[Darth Malice]

Perhaps the liberals want us to move into caves...while Gore and the wealthy liberals maintain their lifestyle....Yep,buy carbon credits and make yourself feel better.

[Zifnab]

Or... buy insulation for your windows?
I still need someone to explain to me why every house in America doesn't have solar panels.
Why do conservatives hate common sense?

[Darth Malice]

Z,I am all for being more energy independent.I would like to get off mid-east oil all together.We can't drill in Alaska because of the enviroment.So we ship more money to mid-east terrorist.Real smart.

[BassClef]

Darth, you must have heard by now that ANWR can't, by even the most optimistic predictions, provide what the US currently uses in daily consumption. Drop in the bucket, bubba.

Nuclear? All well and good, except for that pesky waste that not even Nevada wants.

[scarshapedstar]

"I would like to get off mid-east oil all together.We can't drill in Alaska..."

There are two sides to this problem, supply and demand. Why do conservatives ignore or demonize any attempts to address the latter? They mock fuel efficiency outright. It's insane. And I often wonder: if a conservative walks into a store and sees a bottle of bleach for $5.00 and an identical bottle for $10.00 right next to it, do they spring for the more expensive one, in the hope that their conspicuous wastefulness will "piss off a liberal"?

Sometimes it's OK to simply use superior technology, even if Barbra Streisand wants you to.

[Buzzy]

Exactly how to you translate conservative doubts as to man made global warming and Al Gore's "pollute all you want buy carbon offsets" into somehow conservatives mocking fuel efficiency outright?

So maybe you can show me exactly how the left intends to pollute less besides flying all over the nation in a private jet selling carbon offsets. Exactly when will the left stop blocking the building of nuclear power plants and unblock the building of the 17 hydroelectric dams they have stalled for more than a decade. Most Americans can't afford solar electric arrays for their houses, will this Democratic majority congress pay for that? I would love a wind turbine in my back yard, it costs about $50k and I can't afford it. Will the left stop filing lawsuits against wind turbine fields everywhere they are built (they might just hurt birds you know)?

The point is that the political left hasn't brought anything new or better to the table over pollution or the ecology. They have obstructed all attempts to reduce the amount of hydrocarbons we make in the production of electricity and now they're attempting to prop up this scammy "carbon offsets" like it actually does something except allow huge polluters like Al Gore and the jet set celebrity bunch a way to feel better while they're killing the planet.

I really want to know if the left will put its money where its mouth is and stop obstructing cleaner forms of electric power generation.

[Jabba the Tutt]

Their desire is to not believe in anything being supreme to man....But accepting that our knowledge is still very limited, putting us at the mercy of vast, not fully knowable cosmic forces is the very thing the Left fears when it comes to religion - it demands one give up a certain amount of control. It also resigns one to being small, insignificant, without some grand calling, or cause. That position often exposes one to increased existential anxiety, as your, and the planet's fate are not ultimately in your own hands.

I think you've crytalized this down to it's essence. You then combine the Left's desire for Man to be supreme with the Left's unwarranted sense of Moral Superiority (they are better than God) and a drive to power. The result is a group of better, who are willing to do and say anything to gain power. Once in power, they are willing to do and say anything to keep power. Anyone else in power is evil. Can anyone say BusHitler?

People have said the hatred of Bush came about in the Florida aftermath of the 2000 election. Wrong. It started with Bush said his more influential philosopher was Jesus. For the Left, Thou shalt have no God above Mankind. Having Bush as President is like having Mullah Omar as Pope. The true believers cannot stand it. It drives them bonkers.

[scarshapedstar]

"Exactly how to you translate conservative doubts as to man made global warming and Al Gore's "pollute all you want buy carbon offsets" into somehow conservatives mocking fuel efficiency outright?"

Nobody's ever criticized Prius drivers or said that Hummers are totally kewl?

[iftheshoefits]

"I still need someone to explain to me why every house in America doesn't have solar panels."

I don't know, I have some, have you bought any for yourself yet? Or are you waiting for some of the carbon offset proceeds from the rich and famous to help foot the bill?

[templar knight]

If anyone is interested, Gore Power Co., on the thread that refers to Margaret Thatcher and Global Warming, published a list of scientists he says don't necessarily believe the Global Warming scenario put forth by the liberals. An interesting list, to say the least, although I can't say whether it is correct or not.

[Mike]

Does anyone think Gore is a source of facts? Or the U.N.? I think it's a waste of time trying to convince these people who made up their minds in the 1960s - about everything! They've been trying to save mankind from democracy and capitalism for decades. Like the ozone layer, this will get lost in another one of their narcissistic causes to save the world. When the sixties crowd grow so old that they can no longer hold up their placards of dissent (about everything), that's the time the world will breathe a sigh of relief - like the couple that finally leaves the party when the party was over hours ago; the host shuts the door behind them and says, "Thank God!"

[southdakotaboy]

There are many ways to help stop global warming that aren't as drastic as nuke power (which leaves long term and dangerous waste products). First all new home should be required to be built with geothermal heat pumps. In order to help offset the 30,000 cost give the people a choice of tax breaks. Second there are thousands of hog and cattle yards (large scale feedlots) that should be required to cap and harness the methane that the waste ponds produce. This could generate huge amounts of electricity to be used to lessen our dependence on coal burning plants. Mandate no till farming (this is becoming the norm anyway so why not just skip ahead). Reinvest in our rail system this could take huge amounts of truck traffic and plane traffic out of the system. If need be to keep costs low for the railroads let them use low security prison labor to fix the rails.

[templar knight]

"Nobody's ever criticized Prius drivers or said that Hummers are totally kewl".

scar, anyone who drives a Prius is gay, and Hummers are 'da bomb!

[Darth Malice]

Templar you are in great form tonite!

[Purple Avenger]

"I still need someone to explain to me why every house in America doesn't have solar panels."

The electric stuff is costly, (currently)inefficient, high maintenance(a little dirt drops efficiency a lot), and subject to damage in high wind or hail areas.

Hot water, isn't as bad. There's lots of places in FL that use roof panels to get hot water.

[Buzzy]

Dunno what he thinks about Prius drivers but Gore thinks that Gulfstream 5 business jets and Lincoln Limos are kewl.

[Jon G]

Some links to responses to the program by, uh, real scientists who actually study climate change for a living.

Sir John Houghton (http://www.jri.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=137&Itemid=83),

RealClimate (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/03/swindled/)

http://inthegreen.typepad.com/blog/2007/03/deconstructing_.html.

[Darth Malice]

Buzzy I want Gore to give us all a ride on his private jet?I mean the jet is going there anyway right?If he wants to lower his carbon footprint he should hold his breath!I can hold mine for a minute:)

[templar knight]

Thanks, Darth, I've been out of town for a week, and wanted to let my liberal friends know that I'm back. Good to see everyone. Where's Legalize?

[Darth Malice]

Legalize is too busy denouncing America......Templar did you limit your carbon footprint.

[templar knight]

Nah, not today. It was my first day back home, and I had to take my 4-wheel drive to the shooting range. I just got a brand new Rock River AR-15, and had to sight it in. Actually, it's for my 17-year old son, but he can't buy it yet, so I got it for him when he reaches 18. For his birthday.

[Darth Malice]

Well then knight I guess if you send me 500.00 I will plant dozens of trees to cover the car.Sure it will make little impact ,but you will feel better that you covered the car:)

[Dan Riehl]

Some links to ...

A bunch of the usual nonsense, all advocacy and no science. And your Sir John is a freaking hack. He hasn't done any science in years, if ever.

Sir John Houghton is Co-chair of the Scientific Assessment Working Group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and was formerly Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office. Sir John writes and lectures widely on the relationship between Christian faith and environmental concerns.

[Dan Riehl]

Hell the guy is as old as dirt, no wonder he sees the end.

Chapel Message by Sir John Houghton, visit www.wetn.org ... Biography John Houghton was born in 1931 in Dyserth, Clwyd, educated at Rhyl Grammar School, ...

[Sean]

Encourage people to see the video "The Great Global Warming Swindle".

Here is an easy URL to remember to see the program. Pass it along to friends and family.

http://gorelied.notlong.com

[Phoenix]

Darth,

I heard they're calling up another 3,500 soldiers to send to Afghanistan and then more for Iraq. What are the chances you'll be putting a carbon footprint in either place?

[Phoenix]

"on the relationship between Christian faith and environmental concerns."

Does he advocate praying it away?

[Phoenix]

"But the secular humanists of the Left abhor religion."

So do the secular humanists of the right.

[Dan Riehl]

Yeah, I should have said progressives, I suppose.

[Darth Malice]

Phoenix,I keep my bag packed.

[Phoenix]

Let's take a collection and get you a cool laptop, Darth. Then you could live-blog to us. That would be neat. Plus, it would keep us from missing you so much.

[templar knight]

"How come conservatives can't cut it as scientists, generally?"

Link please on political persuasion of scientists. My experience is that most hard scientists are conservative and the soft ones are liberal.

[Jon G]

most hard scientists are conservative and the soft ones are liberal. Pure BS.

Dan tells us that since Sir John Houghton hasn't done any science in years, that his judgments on Global Warming therefore can't be right. Which begs the question, since Dan's passing judgment on Global Warming, just exactly what science he's ever done on the subject?

But, of course, Sir Houghton acutally has done science:

A former professor of atmospheric physics at Oxford University, Houghton has held a number of important scientific and administrative posts, having served as Director General of the Britain's Meteorological Office, as Chair of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, and as Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Scientific Assessment Committee.

Who on this board has better credentials?

The overwhelming majority of scientist believe global warming is real. Those are scientists, the test their judgments by facts, not balance them against their ideological prejudices, like Dan and his brethren. When Dan tries to foist that consensus off as some sort of irrational religious belief he demeans both science and religion. Certainly curious for a conservative.

[Jon G]

"My experience is that most hard scientists are conservative and the soft ones are liberal."

The quote below is from Einstein, I'm curious how this fits into your all scientists are conservative mantra.

"I believe Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence for fighting for our cause, but by non-participation of anything you believe is evil.

[TomB]

BassClef, it's always, "yea, but".

Build hydro dams. "yea, but we'd kill habitat".

Build nucs: "yea, but we'd have to deal with the waste".

Drill ANWR: "yea, but there isn't enough there to last forever".

Oil shale: "yea, but it would require that nasty strip mining".

Wind turbines: "yea, but it will ruin my view". (Ted Kennedy).

There's always a problem with producing more energy. The keft doesn't care about CO2, they care about reducing growth and taking control of the means of production.

When the AGW scaremongers admit we need to build more dams and nuclear poewr plants, I will believe they are serious. But that won't happen.

[TomB]

BTW BassClef, you might want to get out of the dark ages and look at pebble bed reactors. They solve the problems you seem to feel are unsolvable.

[charles]

great suggestion tom

i recently took advantage of the dip in the asian stock market and invested in the company that will be producing the modular pebble bed reactors

obviously i believe it's the way to go in the future of energy production

that's how you put your money to good use while giving mankind the ability to decrease the amount of waste gasses to create usable heat energy

because of the inherent safety and the lower cost of installation and use i also believe it will be a great help for third world nations to raise the quality of life for their people

and the funniest part of the whole deal is the agw hysterics seem to know so little about it

it seems to have been left out of their talking points

c'mon all you theoenvironmentalists get smart and make me wealthy - you can do it!

[TomB]

"that's how you put your money to good use while giving mankind the ability to decrease the amount of waste gasses to create usable heat energy"

If you haven't yet, you should read (as should everybody), the late Julian Simon's "The Ultimate Resource".

The "ultimate resource" being, of course, humanity. IOW, we are completely capable of finding answers to any problem we are faced with, PROVIDED we are given the freedom to do it.

[BassClef]

Thank for the condescension, Tom. If the safety and economic issues re pebble bed reactors ever get worked out, you let me know.

Screw my cousin? Yeah, but then the kid would just end up a neocon.

[TomB]

"If the safety and economic issues re pebble bed reactors ever get worked out, you let me know."

Another "yea, but".

There are no safety issues with PBRs, and the only economic issues are because of onerous enviro standards. There is no safer way of producing electricity than PBRs. Other than hydro, that is. But I'm sure there's a "yea, but" you've got for that one too.

[TomB]

"Screw my cousin"?

Huh? Are you talking to me?