http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/10/brave…

But there have been a lot of definitive statements made here and via facebook that claim research and fact.

The truth is the idea of global warming and climate change is under a not so favorable review by a lot of scientist from conservatives and liberals. Heck, even the Huffington post went after Al Gore and his **cough** cough** Nobel peace winning ***cough***cough** movie.

Of course, we should wisely steward the earth but I am afraid that much of what is said on both sides of this argument has more to do with ideology before we get to the topic than anything else.

Jake:
Many Christians I meet, believe in global warming but don’t seem to care. I think its because they reject the the uber environmentalist movement and then settle at the polar end of the issue.

Eric:
Is the question do we believe in heating and cooling cycles of the earth, or that it is all influenced by human emissions and living our lives?

Travis:
In my experience, only self-centered people believe in man-made global environmental damage. It’s those that would have us believe that abortion is okay because there are too many of us anyway.

Andrea:
I don’t understand how a christian cannot “believe” in global warming. Were not talking about Santa Claus here! Just take a look at the latest research. No other time in the history of the earth have temperatures fluctuated so radically. Every 500 years or so there is a temperature cycle that happens. This is a fact and is proven with … Read More research. The disturbing thing is that this cycle is far hotter, and FAR more extreme than it has EVER been. This is also a fact and is backed up by research.

Very interesting topic Mike!

Isn’t there a statue of him at the Vatican now? I’m sure Galileo is delighted to be held in such high esteem by a genocidal, unethical, peodophilic and racist organization. :)

As for Christians being accustomed to thinking critically about such issues, that’s only true in the sense that they (and I mean the really stupid ones) distrust science because of a preconditioned belief system that science and religion are not compatible. Thus religion must win when there is a contentious issue in the science/religion arena.

The result? Christians not worrying about nuclear weapons or global warming because they know how the world will end and they take a delight in thinking it will happen in their life time. The more nuclear weapons the better.

Of course I repeat, I’m not talking about all Christians, just the dumb ones. I must admit I think I spot one above which might contradict your point about ‘well-reasoned’ responses but I guess it could be worse :)

Michael,
The friend who asked this question is not a Christian – he is somewhere between agnostic and atheist last time I asked.

I’m not sure how answering the question of an honest skeptic makes Christians look dumb. In addition see comment #1 from Tim: “Christians are accustomed to thinking critically about issues like this one. We are, perhaps, a little harder to win into arguments like this one that seek to change everything.” I know you’ve met enough of ‘my kind’ now to know that this is not true of all Christians, but of more than you would have thought a year or two ago.

If you look at the comments above, you see a series well-reasoned responses. Who would have thought? ;-)

To tie religion to everything especially issues such as this is dangerous and moreover it makes Christians look really really dumb. Only the most fervent religious zealots would want to associate religion with all aspects of life but this does seem to be an unfortunate upward trend. Hopefully a greater understanding through technology and science along with improved education will bring some rationale back into the equation.

I just hope we all last that long.

As I posted on my blog yesterday, there is a growing opposition among scientists to the global warming claims. It’s been known for years that there are problems with the computer models, which make projections based on data created by the models themselves. And, recent data shows the planet cooling, Antarctic ice increasing, and other things contrary to the projections.

Now, as a Christian (and an amillennianist at that), I believe we need to be responsible stewards, and controlling pollution, etc., is a good thing. However, I’m not being motivated by the fear-mongers.

The biggest take away from this discussion for me so far would be this: God created Man and Earth, he’s not going to be happy if we mess either of them up through our action or inaction. Agree?

P.s. Climate change is not a political issue, and there isn’t wide spread disagreement within the scientific community. These are mind traps not opinions. Do not fall for them.

It’s not a religious conviction. It’s just an ignorant, vicarious belief. I’d be happy to be persuaded that it’s all fictitious. For what it’s worth, I didn’t believe that fruit was causing me cancer, that the millennium bug would bring planes to earth with a bump, or that any of the asteroids which were going to obliterate us last century would fall in my porridge. In other words, this looks to me a lot more like deduced reason than panic-stricken speculation.

ED…

I am not smart enough to know, but Jay Richards speaks for me on the issue until I declare otherwise.

Elsewhere, Richards has asked a great question: What is the earth’s ideal temperature?

I would have to say that my experience is a split one. Some people like to use biblical “evidence” in some weird attempt to refute the science of global warming. I find it really odd, that Christians constantly feel the need to interpret science through the lens of the bible. Don’t get me wrong, I would die for the bible, but it is a book about God’s redemption of man – not a science textbook.

This world has, in the past hundred years, suffered the death of millions of people due to wars and famine. Does that mean that since God will eventually redeem this earth, that we sit by and let people starve to death, or allow unjust wars to continue? Global warming is a byproduct of our arrogance. As the population of this world increases (astronomically now) the demand on this planet is heavy. If we ignore the need to change our habits, we are going to be just as guilty as those who throughout history, have acted to damage this planet and its inhabitants. Instead of warplanes, we are unleashing poisonous pollution on the planet.

Is this apart of God’s plan? Are we just passive beings unable to change the events of history? Is that what God has called his church to be – passive babies afraid to give up our gigantic SUVs to help change the planet?

Hey Christians, one of your first jobs since creation was to take care of the planet. Maybe the fact that the polar bears are dying, glaciers are melting, more and more people are getting asthma, and the earth is well, getting really HOT, maybe suggests the humans aren’t doing a really good job. (Oh yeah, taking care of the planet isn’t a directive for “Christians” but all humans, so lets not worry about holding hands with pagan scientist)

I’ve heard other believers say “I’m not worried about global warming, God’s in control, He’ll end the world when he wants, and then He’s taking us out of here anyway.”
Well, yes God will end the world when his timing is complete. That’s not to say that he won’t let us live with the cataclysmic consequences of our actions for a few millenia before hand though. Also, remember that one of the first commands given in scripture is for Adam and Eve, and by extension the human race after them, to care for the planet God has entrusted to us. Finally, the end of all things isn’t simply about us being whisked away to heaven. Revelation 21 describes a renewed heaven and earth that will be our eternal dwelling. God intends to renew his entire created order.

Putting all this aside, scientific observation (despite a certain past US president’s attempts to suppress and ignore it) is proving over and over again that the climate is changing, that humans are responsible for this change, and that the time to reverse this change is running out.