So, how large is your carbon footprint these days? You know, that naughty thing Al Gore talks about you reducing (or at least limiting) while he travels about in a private jet and lives in a gargantuan house. If you think all of this carbon talk is about saving the environment, think again.
Consider this. Iceland's volcano with the unpronouncible name recently erupted again. When it did, it wiped out 5 years of carbon savings for every man, woman and child on the planet within 4 days! Now, Iceland has another volcano ready to blow that is even larger (Grimsvotn). Oops! So much for carbon footprints!
Remember Mount Pinatubo? It was a volcano in the Philippines that erupted in the 90's. And it erupted for an entire year. The emissions from that one event negated the carbon emissions of every man, woman and child on the planet since the beginning of human history! Again, this is a large and inconvenient oops!
So while you drive your Prius and avoid styrofoam cups to help the environment, remember this. Most of what you hear hear about carbon footprints and saving the planet isn't about caring for the earth at all. It's all about people control and destroying the Western, free-market economy. China has built more than 200 coal-fired power plants in the last 2 years alone, and they would be exempt from any of the Kyoto Accords under emerging nations status. Perhaps Al Gore needs to start over there and help "educate" them about how bad they are with their environmental mismanagement. But until then, let's understand the fact that it's not really about the environment at all. It's about two huge words. Government. And control.
Dennis: Science is indeed limited in all the ways you suggest, and in my view, to the point where it will not be able to prove the existence of God. That's the difference between faith and science. However, by my faith, I'm not compelled to choose one over the other. God created humans (according to Genesis or by evolution--either way is fine by me) with the ability to reason and think critically. I don't have faith in science, because science is all about what can be seen and observed. I have faith in God, despite the lack of tangible evidence.
Posted by: Shirley | July 15, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Shirley,
At least capitalize "Cheese".
Posted by: Dennis | July 14, 2011 at 07:43 PM
I would be more concerned with prophecy.
Ultimately science will one day discover God. I always struggle with people that arrogantly point to "science" as the answer to everything. Where does faith come in? I asked if you knew what faith meant. You did not answer.
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Can science prove love?
Can science prove faith?
Can science prove hate?
Can science prove evil?
Can science prove hope?
Can science prove soul?
Ever notice how all dogs are basically the same? Same way with cats. Do you think they have souls?
Think humans are different?
Posted by: Dennis | July 14, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Maybe this is His que? The Word does say He will bring us together at opportune times. He is knocking, will you open the door?
Stranger things have happened:)
Posted by: BobbyJ. | July 14, 2011 at 03:44 PM
Thanks, but I'll take my cues from the big cheese. I appreciate the suggestion, however.
Posted by: Shirley | July 14, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Shirley surely you would remember the date and time.
Maybe you should think about doing so.
Posted by: BobbyJ. | July 14, 2011 at 01:14 PM
No. And, I'll have to look at my records.
Posted by: Shirley | July 14, 2011 at 11:44 AM
OT may make you question your origin and creation however the NT is the only thing that matters. I am not a legalistic Jew, are you?
A better question, have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
Posted by: BobbyJ. | July 14, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Shirley, are you aware the book of Genesis is the most archaeologically authenticated book in the world? Through the years more skeptics have said that the places in Genesis weren't there, or didn't happen, and yet new archaeological findings are proving it true like never before.
Now regarding the Bible and science, it was the Bible that first stated that the constellation of Orion had 7 stars in its belt. Science told us that there were only 5. However, after the development of high powered telescopes they found 2 more stars! Science and the Bible are not incompatible although they may appear to be that way unless you dig a little.
Based on astronomy alone I agree with Dennis. The earth can only be 12,000 years old (give or take a few). Why? Consider the fact that the moon is moving away from the earth. It was closer a few thousand years ago. And the tidal patterns of a moon closer than that would have made all life unsustainable on earth. This is one, simple, scientific observation. I enjoy the dialogue among people that like to wrestle these issues out in the context of finding the truth, even if it may lead to the Bible being proved true. Many who cling to science these days have an anti-Bible, anti-Christian agenda. I appreciate your openness and candor.
Posted by: CuppaJoe | July 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM
I'm very fallible. I do more dumb things before 9:00 a.m. than most people do all day. However, I am a stickler for logic, evidence, and facts. I'm an innate critical thinker, and I view this inclination as a spiritual gift. As for your belief that a Christian must believe that the Bible is factually inerrant, we'll have to agree to disagree. There are factual contradictions in Genesis, so to me, that's a clue as to how we should view it. I don't recall Jesus spending much time convincing his disciples that the scriptures were an accurate account of history. He surely didn't mention it when asked what's most important.
Science is the process of examining and testing what can be observed. This leads to the discovery of scientific truth, which leads to the development of technologies we rely on innumerable times every day. There are simply no credible scientists who buy the idea that the earth is only 10,000 year old. If you want to believe otherwise, that's fine, but I don't have to respect that belief. I think it's silly. I'd rather an atheist surgeon apply science to repair my knee than the Christian minister. If God subjects me to eternal punishment for this, so be it. I'm not worried.
As for the Constitution, it calls for some reverence, but the authors were neither all Christian (according to your standard) nor infallible themselves. For Heaven's sake, the Constitution codified slavery. Moreover, the Constitution was written to be a living document. Just read the 4th and 5th Amendments, then tell me how to define "unreasonable" or "due process" without reference to extrinsic evidence.
I didn't vote for Obama, but I'm not of the belief that he's a Muslim, Kenyan, anti-christ, hellbent on destroying our country. The fact of the matter is that the abuse of the Constitution (i.e., the 10th Amendment) began almost 80 years ago. It's odd to me that the groundswell of 10th Amendment defenders didn't occur until Obama became the pres. It makes me wonder what motivates his attackers and the supposed defenders of the Constitution.
Posted by: Shirley | July 14, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Shirley,
Believe it or not, you are not infallible.
You site the example of we "Christian-folk" picking and choosing what we find useful in science, yet you do the same to the Holy Bible. Your claim to Christianity (however admirable) is uneducated.
A true Christian believes the Holy bible to be the inspired word of God, and therefore truth. The only truth that exists. The Holy Bible is also the ONLY source of wisdom. Christianity is not measured in degrees (that's like being kinda pregnant, right?) Don't get me wrong, I am not scorning you. I am simply redirecting your faith to its source. I am not elevating myself, as I fall far short of what my Lord and Maker expects of me.
There is nothing new in this world, that has not been created by our maker.
Now I know that you are right. I believed for all of my life that men had one less rib than women. I was wrong; however, it is a known fact that a rib removed can regenerate. Just because one man had his rib removed does not mean that all men will have one fewer rib. Your continued attack on my mistaken belief that men have one less rib than women belies that you maintain a defensive position (I was called on my mistaken belief many months ago, and I admitted my mistake). Whether I speak the truth on every occasion, or not, is irrelevant as I will admit my mistakes and grow from them. I also rely on the Truth (whether I know it, or not) by referring to the Word of my Lord and Savior. You may not forgive me, but He does. I only need ask.
What was it that Jesus said about lukewarm Christians? I fear being lukewarm! Do you know what faith means (and I'm not being rhetorical)? That's simple, like the Truth. Science is complex. Science is like explaining what, or why, when nobody asked. Matters of the heart, like love and faith, need no explanation. It only matters where you place your priority.
Politically (the only reason I express myself here) I care about the Constitution. I believe that the Constitution was composed by people who's values were derived from Judeo-Christian beliefs. I believe that our country has been usurped by Communist-Socialist-atheist elements bent on the destruction of freedom and Christianity.
You disagree with me, but as a fellow Christian (that you claim to be), please have a little respect.
Posted by: Dennis | July 13, 2011 at 07:42 PM
I'm a Christian who relies on God for love and forgiveness. However, I do not believe the Bible to me much of an authority on when the earth came to be. That's all. I'm not sold on the idea of anthropogenic climate change. At least not enough to drastically change public policy. I also don't think carbon dioxide emissions have dropped. The growth has slowed, and the lag between the emissions and any change in climate isn't so fast--at least according to those who know more than I. That's not a good argument.
Posted by: Shirley | July 13, 2011 at 03:56 PM
Shirley surely you can answer my question.
Human output has reduced due to global recession, what is the correlating temperature drop?
Posted by: BobbyJ. | July 13, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Shirley: Ever heard of people such as George Washington Carver, Eli Lilly, and numerous other inventors who were good Christians, and often claimed divine inspiration as the starting gun for their contributions to progress? Whether you realize it or not, uninspired science was not the only thing that contributed to your lifestyle. Not by a long shot.
Posted by: GodsGreeley | July 13, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I'll rely on science for the construction of everything I own, the planes I fly in, the cars I drive, the computer I use, the medicines I ingest, and the soundness of the building in which I work. You can rely on your preacher and the bible to do these things. Good luck.
Posted by: Shirley | July 13, 2011 at 11:02 AM
I like how science is infalliable. Especially when it comes to Scientific Racisim and Eugenics.
Posted by: InPlainSight | July 13, 2011 at 10:38 AM
The current global recession has reduced output.
How much has the earth cooled?
Posted by: Bobby J. | July 13, 2011 at 08:35 AM
You mean the part of that book that had you convinced that women have one more rib than men? That part of the book that contains factual contradictions in the very first two books? Why rely on science every time you drive, fly, operate electronics, and thousands of other things every day but ignore it when it comes to the age of the earth? And it's really simple science?
Posted by: Shirley | July 13, 2011 at 06:48 AM
Holy Bible.
Posted by: Dennis | July 12, 2011 at 11:10 PM
Based on what evidence or facts?
Posted by: Shirley | July 12, 2011 at 07:54 PM
Shirley,
No more than 10,000 years.
Posted by: Dennis | July 12, 2011 at 04:43 PM
I'm with you on human-caused global warming, but how old is the earth, Dennis?
Posted by: Shirley | July 12, 2011 at 02:37 PM
President Obama on Tuesday said he cannot guarantee that retirees will receive their Social Security checks August 3 if Democrats and Republicans in Washington do not reach an agreement on reducing the deficit in the coming weeks.
"I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it," Mr. Obama said in an interview with CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley.
DO IT YOU IMPOSTER!
DO IT!!
SEE WERE YOU LAND ON AUG 4TH.
Posted by: Powerball | July 12, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Exactly!
I believe that humans would have to be pretty arrogant to believe that we could impact global climate to the extent that is claimed by these "global-warming" theorists. These are the same people that think the earth is over 5 billion years old (sounds kinda small compared to our debt, huh?). How many volcanoes have erupted in that time frame?... and we caused global warming?
I remember in the 70's we were supposed to fear the coming "Ice Age".... and they call us chicken little.
That being said, I do believe that we should conserve where it is feasible.
Posted by: Dennis | July 12, 2011 at 01:39 PM