Thursday, April 16, 2009

Who Believes in Global Warming?

The Pew Research Center recently published this data about various religious groups and their overall attitudes toward the issue of global warming. The below graphic clearly shows that white, evangelical protestants are least likely to believe that there is evidence for global warming. I wonder why this is. Do we not believe it because of biblical convictions, because of a distrust in science, because of a distrust of things secular, or some combination of the above? What do you think?

2 comments:

Lew A said...

Global Warming is a funny issue for me. It's not that I don't believe that the Earth's average temperature has raised in the past 10-15 years. I believe we have data that indicates this trend. I would not say that this isn't due in part because of our lack of environmental concern.

However, I also tend to believe that the Earth goes through cycles of warming and cooling. It seems like a knee-jerk reaction to based information only on current data. Granted we really only have current data to deal with. However, I read a report once that the Earth hasn't been this warm in 500 years. I'm not sure where they got their data from, but if it was at least this warm in 500 years, then it would seem to me that this a cyclical thing.

We also have to deal with the fact that 25 years ago scientists were very concerned about Global Cooling (that is, they thought the average temperature was dropping).

Biblically speaking, I would say that if the Earth is warming, then we are safe to say that it is not warming so much that all of the human race is destroyed. At least, my interpretation of the End Times doesn't indicate a massive heating of the Earth (unless perhaps it is setting up the stage for the transformation that the Earth will go through).

So... to make it brief :). The question for me is not, "Is the Earth warmer today than 10 years ago?" but, "What is causing the Earth to warm?" and, "Is it possible to prevent it?"

To those questions, I would lean towards yes, no, no (respectively).

Just thoughts from someone who saw snow in GA two weeks ago.

God Speed,
Lew

P.S. I know some Global Warming activists would say that it snowed in GA two weeks ago because of Global Warming - But whenever everything is a symptom, there are no symptoms.

Eric said...

Lew,

I agree with everything you have said. Amazing!

I remember living in Western New York state during the late 1970's. That was when Buffalo in particular was getting pounded by blizzards and very low temperatures. There was talk then of another Ice Age.

My how things have changed in just a few years.