Re: [asa] IPCC

On 2/14/07, Janice Matchett <janmatch@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> At 03:06 PM 2/13/2007, Rich Blinne wrote:
>
>
>
> On 2/13/07, Janice Matchett <janmatch@earthlink.net > wrote:
> At 05:31 PM 2/12/2007, Rich Blinne wrote:
>
> Note to Janice with respect to scientific methodology. This does not prove
> that CO2 is causing global warming. Rather, some other non-falsified
> mechanism other than solar and/or GCR forcing must explain the increase in
> global average temperatures over the last half century. ~ Rich B.

> @ Exactly. "Some cite the fact that the climate is currently warming and
> the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing. This is true,
> but correlation is never proof of causation.
> ~ Dr. S. Fred Singer, professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the
> University of Virginia. His latest (co-authored with Dennis T. Avery) book:
> Unstoppable Global Warming-Every 1500 Years
> http://www.amazon.com/Unstoppable-Global-Warming-Every-Years/dp/0742551172
>

Singer is missing a point here which is very important namely that
science has established that CO2 is a greenhouse gas and that models
require anthropic as well as natural forcing to model the global
temperatures. In other words, causation is supported by correlation as
well as direct mechanisms and supporting data.
As Christians and scientists we should be careful which 'experts' we
cite as others, who maybe none Christians may quickly recognize the
vacuity of these 'experts' arguments.
Especially since as Christians we have shown a poor propensity to rely
on flawed scientific arguments known under such various names as
Scientific Creationism or Intelligent Design. Which may help
understand why Christians may be more succeptible to accept similarly
poor arguments when it comes to for instance climate science, whether
it be global warming or the ozone hole. Just check out the response to
the recent IPCC report to get a good understanding of where the
science shows the finger should be pointing. And this is the work of
thousands of scientists from various countries, backgrounds who have
come together to study this difficult and often highly political topic
to come to a strong consensus on global warming. We may want to reject
this cynically as 'they know who pays their salaries' but we all
should understand that such ad hominem responses do not serve neither
science nor our faith.

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Received on Sat Feb 17 10:49:38 2007