This mistrust is not without merit as throughout history religions and cults have abused their power to convert or even enslave their opponents. It the religion demands total acceptance of doctrine without question it can become a tool to force absolute compliance and demand contributions of money, resources and time from believers and non-believers alike. In the end, organized religion is often all about money and power, rather than faith and belief.
Because science thrives on inquiry, experimentation, observation and questioning of pre-conceived ideas, scientists are often at the forefront in conflict with religion. Religion tends to brook no questions, tolerate no denial, permit no experimentation and, all too often, forbids even observation of nature.
One of the greatest scientists in history, Galileo Galilei, was ensnared in the conflict between religion and his own scientific inquiry, observation and development of theories that explained the facts he observed.
In 1633 Galileo was arrested, tried during the Inquisition, forced to renounce his findings and theories and was imprisoned only to be released and forced to live under house arrest until his death. He was forbidden to discuss this theories unless he labeled them as "fiction."
Most people know the biography I've outlined above. What you might not know is the Galileo was often wrong in his theories! Factually, provably, stunningly wrong! For example, in his zeal to prove the earth revolved around the sun, he predicted the movement of the tides based on his theories. He was wrong, horribly wrong [ as a side note, tides are influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon, not the sun ]. Galileo's theories about the movement of the tides were pure bunk! This absolute failure was used as "proof" that he was a heretic during his trial.
Further, because his theory about the tides was wrong the Jesuit's used his failure to infer that his entire idea that the earth revolving around the sun was also wrong. Since he was imprisoned and forbidden to research and forbidden to write, he could not vindicate himself.
Of course, Galileo was, in fact, correct about the earth and the sun. He was also correct about, quite literally, hundreds of other theories and ideas. The Catholic Church realized, almost immediately the error of its conflict with science and has spent the better part of the last 300 years forgiving and eventually pardoning Galileo.
Today we have a new, powerful and money hungry religion, it's the religion of Global Warming and human influenced damaging climate change. Like the Catholic Church of the 17th century, the Church of Global Warming demands absolute and unquestioning adherence to the per-prescribed set of doctrines and beliefs. Global warming zealots permit no questioning of the holy scriptures and will not tolerate for even a moment any observation of facts that does not fit into the rigid belief system.
Their mantra is "This is Settled Science," or "97% of Scientists Agree." Neither statement is remotely true. What is true is the "Popes of Global Warming" are making millions of dollars off the paranoia their doctrine creates.
Unfortunately, the current facts on the ground fly in the face of the organized acolytes. We are, in reality,in the early stages of a global cooling cycle that will likely last another 50 years. Ice is rapidly reforming in the Arctic, and the Antarctic is the coldest its ever been in recorded history. Every projection so far issued by Global Warming scientists has failed to predict the current cooling. Predictions of extreme storms has also failed as were are now in the eighth year of the quietest period for hurricanes and tornadoes since 1900.
This is not to say, that Global Warming isn't happening. It is to say, like Galileo's theory of the tides, the early attempts to prove the theory are stunningly wrong. Eventually, scientist will determine the truth if...... if the religion of Global Warming allows real scientists to investigate further without condemnation or restraint.
Therein lies the problem. Today the zealotry of the Global Warming establishment seeks to have skeptics fired, lose research grants, face public ridicule and be driven into the modern equivalent of house arrest.
The recent revelation of facts has denied the Global Warming Priests of virtually all their arguments supporting Global Warming. Like the Church, when the facts no longer match the scripture, they fall back onto the threat of Hell and eternal damnation. Those who don't believe are heretics, possessed by the devil.
Witness this little piece of religious horror from Greenpeace. This isn't science, it's a quest for money, power and believers:
1 comment:
This is one of the best dissertations on the politics behind Global Warming I have read.
Thank you so much for blogging this.
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