"Climate change" is very much the buzz word for the hip 21st century young gunslinger ( such as moi 
). My problem is, although I use the phrase when I mutter darkly about our weird weather (fave Brit topic) I'm not sure I understand what it actually means. Moreover, I can't shake the idea that it might,just might, be a tsunami in a tea cup.
I came across this today by the provocative Melanie Phillips.
Her closing paragraph is very well put and just incase you lazy ones at the back of the class can't be bothered to keep reading to the end I'll paste it in here:
The point about reason is not a passing curiosity. It lies at the very heart of our present malaise, going far beyond the issue of climate change. We are living in the most advanced age of reason known to mankind, in which our worship of rational thought, our belief that the only truths are those which can be empirically demonstrated and our scorn for what we deem by these lights to be irrational have led us progressively to junk religious faith and embrace secularism. And yet, at the very same time, we have abandoned reason for belief in irrational claims that correspond to certain prejudices or obsessions or ideologies; we have deconstructed the very idea of truth itself, that lies at the heart of reason, and as a result display daily credulity before an avalanche of lies and ideological propaganda from a host of different quarters, with the further outcome that those who vainly attempt to point out the facts are themselves dismissed as irrational, cranky or mad. It is a paradox; and at the heart of it, I suspect, lies the collapse of religious faith itself, whose eclipse has destroyed the very quality of reason that its secular destroyers claim to uphold.
Comments
Nov. 3, 2006 - Hiya Clare!
Posted by deedeeuk
Wow! That's DEEP!!! You are the only person I know who could post about the weather and it be such a deep and phylosophical discussion!! :-) How are you ? Have you gotten a shock? From sunny Italy to freezing England!! Bbbrrrrrrrr!
Nov. 3, 2006 - Wow!!!!!!
Posted by Anonymous
Yes, I am sitting at the back of the class, but I can only take so much at once. The last paragraph is a zinger. I have been musing about such stuff lately, and this does give on food for thought.
Leigh Ann
Nov. 3, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jayfromcleveland
Claire, I think it was Francis Schaeffer who first pointed out that our notions of objective truth are drawn from our faith in an absolute that exists beyond the reach of our finite human limits, i.e. an almighty creator God. Truly, if God is NOT there, then there is no basis for truth, only subjective human perceptions. Yet when atheists profess "faith" as they do in things like the rule of law, they are taking a counter-position to their own atheism. In a godless universe, anything goes, and "survival of the fittest" would be the only rule.
On the idea of preserving climate, habitat, endangered species, the rain forest, or human life itself, there is no compunction to do so if there is no ultimate objective meaning or purpose. Indeed, science teaches that one day the stars will all go out, all life will end, and the entropy of the universe will be maximized. Thus, by that reckoning, human life is merely a transitory state between the big bang and heat death, with no ultimate purpose. By arbitrarily ascribing meaning to anything at all -- from a sunset to a baby's smile to the Communist Manifesto -- atheists contradict their own beliefs.
If you haven't already done so, read Schaeffer's "How Should We Then Live." The man was the most inspired Christian thinker since Lewis.
BTW, please surf over to my blog and set us straight on the details of the barbaric antecedents of your celebration of anti-popery this weekend.
Nov. 6, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jayfromcleveland
Claire, we took the kids this weekend to see "Flushed Away," a cartoon movie about English rats and their society, set in the sewers under London. This should be just the cure for UK movie goers who are sick to death of USA-centric movies. (BTW, keep in mind that the majority of Yanks themselves are sick to death of movies set in New York or LA, since the hometowns of the other 280 million of us rarely make onto the screen. I wonder -- are the majority of Brits as sick of seeing London on the screen and we Yanks are of NYC and LA?)
This movie is a lot of fun, not so bad in the tasteless "potty humour" department, and has plenty of in-jokes for the parent's benefit. We all enjoyed it emmensely. I thought the British setting was very refreshing, and included the usual cliches about English class distinctions, took some swipes at the "Ugly American" tourists, and prominently featured "Ingerland" footie. I'm sure your kids will have a blast. -j
Nov. 10, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Debismumto4
Hi Claire
Thanks for the comments re families in Surrey. I have managed to track down a lady who I think is a member of EO but any other help would be greatly appreciated. My friends are very seriously considering home schooling and I think one of the things that will hold them back is the lack of christian support. They are very sociable people. Anyway I have been reassured that there are alot of home schoolers in that area.
Great posts as usual, I love reading your entries.
Love Deb
Dec. 17, 2006 - Greetings from the USA
Posted by Marie
I'm random blogging. It started when I realized I still can't blog on the Washington State Blog so I sought other diversions.
I was born in England and was pleasantly surprised to drop in on YOUR BLOG! The less I type the less likely I will be to sound like a dumb Yank. My English Grannie would say that in more coloful British! Since this is a family type blog I will refrain from using her words. LOL!
Merry Christmas!
Home schooling 2, formally for 10 years in Washington
State USA,
Marie
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/washingtonstate
Dec. 18, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jayfromcleveland
Hey Clare, you still blogging? It's been a while since you posted. Yours is one of the few blogs I visit regularly and am always interested in your point of view. Merry Christmas, jay
Dec. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by callmekate
Just stopped by to wish you a Happy Christmas! I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays. Take care and God bless!
Kate
Dec. 25, 2006 - Merry Christmas!
Posted by ihopeyoudance
Hi Clare... hope you're having a wonderful christmas day. I haven't blogged as much lately (hopefully soon I'll get regular at it again!) but when I tell friends about my blogging adventures I always say proudly that I've even made a friend in England and proceed to tell them how interesting and funny you are!
Merry Christmas!
Ruth:)