Who invented the scientific method? People. Fallible humans. It is not perfect. There is a lot of guesswork involved, and a lot of room for bias to enter in. I left the field because every scientist I knew was a militant atheist and had a clear agenda. It was not about searching for truth......it was about interpreting or manipulating data to make themselves and/or their ideologies look good. I wish people would stop treating science as something that is infallible. About the bees......yes, they are disappearing. I don't think it is from climate change......it is from pollution and destruction of the environment.
It is always problematic to make the ascent of belief when referring to secular, main stream media reports regarding science......especially ancient history. The multiple, multiple erroneous stacks of assumptions they portray as fact immediately render the report garbage. When looking in the rear view mirror, and trying to draw conclusions about time and extinction rates, they immediately assume the millions and billions of years theory that was invented to make evolutionary theory possible. BOTH ARE WRONG AND FALSE.
At the risk of being shouted and yelled at again (and Mac this is not directed at you...I'm sure most know that when all caps are used that is the equivalent of screaming at someone) on this forum which is devoted to the Mother of God, I will make my last comment on this topic. I believe that this issue has gone beyond just the Encylical and yes we are set up for schism. I'm concerned for the Church and for ourselves because it is only through the Church that evil can be defeated. I read the entire article in the link above and as I said above, it's criticism has devolved to what I can only say is dangerously close to schism. So with that, for your consideration: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...c_con_cfaith_doc_1998_professio-fidei_en.html http://www.catholicculture.org/cult...ecnum=3155&repos=2&subrepos=0&searchid=647238 [/quote]
Miker - I did not want to "like" your last post, because there is nothing worth liking in the sentiment that you expressed, but I tend to agree with you. I think we all need to be careful in the way we express ourselves during these times, lest we unintentionally foment something none of us desire - namely, schism. I know that all here love the Church. Still, I think a little more prudence in the links we choose to share with others and in the words we choose to express ourselves is in order. As I said in an earlier post, we are all on the same team. We serve the same Master and want to achieve the same goal: salvation for ourselves and others through Jesus. A little more kindness in our dialogue with one another on this forum couldn't hurt.
I agree and take to heart your advice. So to anyone that I have offended I beg your pardon and ask for forgiveness. As a few others have recently done, maybe time to take a bit of a sabbatical. Peace.
Living in the rural area, I am surrounded by prime farm ground (up to $20K/acre). The richest black soil in the world. Pesticides and herbicides are killing the bees as well as many other useful bugs and plants. No doubt about it in my mind. I also feel it is a cause of cancer. We are producing more food, but most of the corn goes to alcohol plants to make car gas, not food. Our government gives (and I don't mean loans) billions of dollars to this process (farmers and alcohol plants) and while it is making the farmers filthy rich, it is hurting our environment and it has squeezed out the family farmer. Its all about the almighty dollar.
“The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast”. For this reason, the ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion. It must be said that some committed and prayerful Christians, with the excuse of realism and pragmatism, tend to ridicule expressions of concern for the environment. Others are passive; they choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent. So what they all need is an “ecological conversion”, whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience. (217) Would be happy to hear from forum members that can say "yes" "how true".
In California, USA we are enduring the worst drought. I really don't think it is from climate change, I think it is from the hand of our Loving God who wants His children in Hollywood to stop producing filthy movies and trends that unfortunately get broadcast to the far reaches of the earth. Surprisingly, our clergy have not asked for extra prayers, prayer intentions, novenas, Eucharistic reparation, rosaries or anything of the sort to beg God's mercy on this natural disaster (drought) that has been worsening for four years. I am baffled by it. I'm thinking more and more that unless we get water, 40 million people will have to be on the move to get out of here if it becomes uninhabitable. Who is behind the weather? Our loving God who only wants His children to acknowledge Him as the Eternal Father. Yes, there is so much we can do to take care of the gift of water, believe me, I don't even waste an ice cube anymore. I was surprised recently that some states don't recycle plastic drink bottles. At least we are being forced by drought to confront our wastefulness and not take the tap turning on for granted.
One thing that bothers me about this encyclical is the fact that the pope (this is his encyclical isn't it) limited the debate on climate change. They did not allow for any dissenters on climate change voice their opinion. When it comes to pro-gay marriage attendees at the synod or pro-gay marriage clergy elevated to the seats of bishop, the pope insists on and appoints them. What is more dangerous to the salvation of souls? More questions with no answers. Very troubling to me.
I don't think He is behind it in that He is directly causing it, but rather he is more and more withholding his grace and allowing us to reap what we sow. We as a society have shut him out and turned away from him and like a good father (or rather a good father is a faint representation of Him as the true Father) He is allowing us to see what life is without Him so that some of us might possibly return to Him. We must "put on sackcloth and poor ashes on ourselves" like the people in the town of Ninava. We need to fast, pray and perform much penance as if there is no tomorrow in reparation!!! How many of us (I am speaking to myself as well) really take this seriously enough to actually fast regularly and perform acts of penance? It is time for boot camp - Who of us is ready for this spiritual war!?! We need to speed up, united with the grace of God, and the help of Our Blessed Mother, the process of being able soldiers in the army of our Blessed Mother.
I agree with you, carpediemptf, so much more reparation is needed. One meteorologist explained that potential storms that usually come on shore and give rain were repeatedly being repelled by high pressure fronts coming from the desert. So not as much rain during the fall and winter for the last few years. High pressure fronts don't come from CO2 emissions. Also recall the Heavenly Father's words and promise to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7: 12-14 God’s Promise to Solomon. 12 The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night and said to him: I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for my house of sacrifice. 13 If I close heaven so that there is no rain, if I command the locust to devour the land, if I send pestilence among my people, 14 if then my people, upon whom My NAME has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land. Time is of the essence and more and more people have to heed the call to prayer and sacrifice. God Bless you
I am not sure of your response. Are you saying disinformation is coming out of the vatican in the form of an encyclical, and it is our fault? An excellent analysis copied from another site: "The very fact that scientists who do not believe in Global Warning were BANNED to be a part of this discussion by the Vatican disgusts me. The Vatican banned skeptical scientists from climate summit... The latest scientific data proving Global Cooling came out just weeks before and should have postponed its publication. Especially after the media reported Global Warming scientists changing their stats again to "prove" their case. However Francis spoke of writing this encyclical shortly after his election. I believe the die was cast then. The Church and Pope will take a major hit when proven wrong."
From Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi: I have been asked to respond to those few critiques of the Pope’s encyclical, Laudato Sì, mainly by those who see it as a political ploy rather than an appeal to all Christians by the man God anointed to guide Christians in these turbulent times. One can no more scientifically prove global warming as the cause of the earth's rising atmospheric heat (“radiative forcing”) than one can prove the continental drift, and this, on account of the plethora of variables that are beyond the ken of today's leading minds. Humility is required here, not muscle flexing and fist pumping to see whose present-day “theory” survives the test of time. While I am conversant with the science behind aquaponics and other methods for offsetting (to some degree) said heat index, the causes of the said atmospheric heat are far from a unilaterally accepted conclusion. In the grand scheme of the green-house effect, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and several other gases have an effect on radiative forcing, but the heat increase and damage to the ozone these contribute to, may be remediated through increased forestation. Having traveled to Asia and discussed matters on the rising atmospheric heat and its potential causes, in particular with a Filipino priest from Manila who was featured on CNN, it is clear that acquaponics today is an effective means of offsetting the rising heat. Although the manner by which we live today impacts the atmosphere and temperature (e.g., electronics and power plants are but two of the many manufactured causes of the earth’s topical heat that, when rising to emit into space, is blocked by smog which, in turn, leads to flooding), the leading cause of the earth's topical and atmospheric heat increase cannot be indisputably proven. Let us not lose sight of this. While many argue that politicians for greed will blame “only” man for this environmental problem, anyone with smarts knows that there are natural causes (not caused by man) which impact our planet every day and contribute to the rising atmospheric heat, e.g., the breakdown of the electromagnetic field that protects us from the sun's harmful rays and solar radiation. Indeed, the sun radiates energy constantly and in all directions. Some of this radiation hits earth. About 1/3rd of that radiation is reflected back into space by earth's atmosphere; the rest penetrates the atmosphere and is absorbed by earth's surface. This creates heat, warming both the planet itself and the atmosphere surrounding it. Another natural cause is the earth's climate, which tends to get cooler and warmer in natural cycles. This can be caused by shifts in the planet's orbit, changes in the sun's intensity and large volcanic eruptions, among other influences that not even science can thoroughly explain. Given the foregoing, a doctrinaire hard-liner who critiques the Roman Pontiff's encyclical because it goes against his theory or run it aground for the sake of his personal position on the matter is simply selfish, as it creates useless confusion in the minds of others. Humility is key here. Let us be careful not to become one the those self-appointed Vatican police who, bereft of any theological credentials, find trumping papal authority more appealing than leading the faithful to the Pope. In Christ, Rev. joseph
A more balanced assessment of the encyclical: http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/06/lets-listen-to-the-pope-on-climate
Mac, I would be very careful about blaming non-Catholics for the Evil to come. I would agree if you had stated non-believers or satan's useful idiots! I live in a very minority Catholic part of the USA and I can assure you that the traditional Protestants here are people of great Faith and Traditional Values .. Pro-Life, Pro-Family and Pro-Holy Trinity ... unlike the 45% of "Catholics" in majority "Catholic" regions where they continue to vote for the political Party of Abortion, Gay "Marriage" and God denying BigBro Government! .... and take a Hard Look at what just happened in "Catholic" Ireland! ... and what I fear will happen in my USA with the imminent decision of our Supreme Court brought to US by the aforementioned above I'm sure if I would take the time to do the research I could prove my conclusions of 50 years of observation and that is: More people have been brought to Christ by traditional Evangelical Protestants, these past 50 years, than the Catholic Church ... or so called, in decline, mainstream Protestant Denominations! Why!!?? Because too many Churches and Churchmen are NOT teaching the Gospel but some mealy-mouthed PC Feel-Good nonsense! So! Time will tell, very soon I fear, who the stalwart Christians are and I'll "Bet the farm" that all the "Catholics Only Need Apply" crowd will be surprised at how many "evil non-Catholics" they find in the Ranks of the Godly and many may well find themselves in Refuges founded and protected by the same. GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
