Posted by
EFuller on Sunday, July 08, 2007 10:12:48 AM
The Live Earth concerts highlight a profound truth -- everyone needs an apocalypse. Or, more precisely, everyone needs a world view that includes a purpose and a threat.
Christianity, Judaism and Islam all have an "end of the world" belief. And all provide a sense of purpose for the individual and the community. In the modern world, as many abandon traditional beliefs, they find the need to believe in something. Even Eastern religions provide an explanation of the place of mankind in the scheme of things.
The environmentalism of Live Earth and global warming -- all provide a set of beliefs that provides a purpose and an apocalyptic threat. For many, it provides a core belief that can't be questioned. For others, it provides a motivation that can be tapped to bring others to action -- whether for political action or sales.
Science tells us the Earth has warmed a bit. It tells us that the Earth has experienced warming/cooling cycles in the past. But the scientific evidence supports non-human causes like variation in the Sun's output, to name one. It is the environmental faith that claims a crisis looms, that man is the cause and mankind must "repent."
Though environmentalism doesn't necessarily posit a deity, it echoes the belief in a Creator. It simply replaces the Creator with the creation. All proving once again that human beings are religious creatures. Hmm... what does that prove?