A couple of weeks ago this blog got into hot water for daring to suggest that the Methodist Church had over-reacted to claims that variations in global temperature may be down to nature rather than human activity.
Those of us who were a little more cautious in both our scientific and theological conclusions were described as "sinners" by no less a person than the the Reverend David Gamble, President of the Methodist Conference. As I have shown elsewhere, daring to challenge this extreme position leads to a great deal of abuse from people who should know better
Now I have absolutely no scientific qualifications, not even a GCSE, my theology is limited, having come from my studies as a local preacher, so I am dependent on others to help me understand the issue.
However, another day, another scientific peer review. The respected Journal for Geophysical Research has just published a rather unhelpful paper from three scientists: J. D. McLean Applied Science Consultants, Croydon, Victoria, Australia; C. R. de Freitas, School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; and, R. M. Carter, Marine Geophysical Laboratory, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
They argue that the variations in mean global temperature which have alarmed other scientists during the last 50 years have been caused by natural phenomena.
Now it may be that all three scientists have been paid vast sums of money as part of a global cover up conspiracy by the petroleum industry. On the other hand, it may be that different scientists are saying different things. Read what they say for yourself.
Whatever the cause of changing climate I still know that the ownership and control of economic systems have a detrimental impact on many of the poorest people on God's earth. We shouldn't need the fashionable hobby horse of climate change to address those injustices.
Just imagine that Methodism in 2009 could be wrong about climate change, in which case the climate change argument will turn out to have been a red herring and the injustices will remain.
Meanwhile, please don't call me and others as "sinners" on the basis of a scientific theory that clearly does not command universal scientific respect.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
I suspect one of two things. Either, a deafening silence, or, we will be told that these scientists are the drug-addled remnants of an evolutionary throwback to pre-neanderthal times and in the pay... etc, etc.
Or some such.
please don't call me and others as "sinners" on the basis of a scientific theory that clearly does not command universal scientific respect.
Everyone is a sinner. No one escapes being a sinner by our actions; we are only saved by the death and resurrection of Christ and by God's grace in forgiving us.
Hi,
Obviously we are all sinners. However I would like clarity on something.
I thought the motion on climate change had called on us to repent of our sin in contributing to climate change.
Does it also say that disagreeing that climate change is caused by human activity is a sin as well?
Note: This is not to debate about climate change, just to ask what the motion meant.
Hi Tom, I've tried to find the link to the original resolution but it is not yet online.
What the President said can be found here:
http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.newsDetail&newsid=359
The original report is here:
http://methodistconference.org.uk/downloads/10-hope-in-gods-future-210509.pdf
I'm off for a couple of days so won't be able to respond to further comments until Thursday, unles I find a freindly internet cafe.
Post a Comment