2007-03-22 06:01:48 · 21 answers · asked by redflite 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Global warming is not a religion, it is a reality. Whether or not you believe that humans are causing it, the earth IS getting warmer. To say otherwise is simply ignoring reality.
I think you meant "has the idea of 'anthropogenic climate change' become a religion?"
On that point I still say no. Whether we like it or not, human activity produces volumes of gasses that most definitely have an effect on climate (especially on a local scale -- smog can have a big impact on temperature in a particular city). Some people point to natural processes, and I agree that there are many natural mechanisms that contribute to global warming... the problem I have with this argument is that the earth started getting warmer as soon as humans started burning fossil fuels. Either this is a huge coincidence, or human activity is having an impact.
Anyway... I think it is possible to argue for the natural processes - but ignoring the human influence on climate is simply absurd.
There is nothing about anthropogenic climate change that must be accepted on faith - a key part of every religion. No faith = no religion. In order to ignore human influence on climate change you MUST accept certain things based on faith (timing of global warming with start of industrial revolution is purely coincidence for example)... I think the people that deny anthropogenic climate change are closer to a religion than the ones that believe it to be likely.
In my experience there are people that believe in anthropogenic climate change that have no idea what they are talking about (eg - people who say that global warming is going to destroy the planet), and there are people who don't believe in it that have no idea what they are talking about (eg - people who try to deny that the earth is getting warmer at all). People on both sides mistakenly link the ozone hole to global warming (the two issues have almost nothing to do with each other). Basically, there is a lot of ignorance to go around, but I would say the people that deny anthropogenic climate change really have to stretch to support their views (especially the ones that try to say global warming itself is not happening).
2007-03-22 10:40:15 · answer #1 · answered by brooks b 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it has its a dam site better than Christianity
at least global warming can be backed up with cold (or hot) honest facts
2007-03-22 18:07:02 · answer #2 · answered by prof. Jack 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About "global warming" --
1. Scientific fact - YES.
2. Religion - NO.
2007-03-22 13:08:04 · answer #3 · answered by Sam 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.
Religion is often described as a communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion is also often described as a "way of life".
Global average air temperature near Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 °Celsius (1.3 ± 0.32 °Fahrenheit) in the last century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations,"[1] which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect. Other phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes have had smaller but non-negligible effects on global mean temperature since 1950.[2] While this conclusion has been endorsed by numerous scientific societies and academies of science, a few scientists disagree about the primary causes of the observed warming.
2007-03-22 13:05:21 · answer #4 · answered by DanE 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
No. It's just a political hot potato. Each side trumps out "scientific" evidence to support either global warming or just the opposite and we are stuck in the middle.
2007-03-22 13:12:22 · answer #5 · answered by SLUG 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Not a recognised one, I live in Alaska, so global warming is something hard to believe here, we had one of the coldest winters on record.
2007-03-22 13:10:27 · answer #6 · answered by doc 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not yet, but I've heard California is going to make it illegal along with the incandescent light bulbs.
2007-03-22 13:10:07 · answer #7 · answered by Colonel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the sense that intelligent, reasoned debate on the subject is no longer tolerated, then yes.
Scientists who do not agree with the recieved position are routinely gagged and get no grant funding.
2007-03-22 14:38:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
no , it's cult , to make us spend more money. they want us to live in a cave again , without a campfire either. Except Al Gore will still live high on the Energy Hog , while preaching his Horse Apples at us
2007-03-22 13:27:58 · answer #9 · answered by pahump1@verizon.net 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
All hail Al Gore.
2007-03-22 13:11:24 · answer #10 · answered by Amanda D 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋