Iowa Representative Steve King has never been coy about acting stupid. Even at a frat party in college, he was voted the stupidest and craziest drunk, even though he was sober. Well, the Iowa Rep is back at it again.
During a speech on Wednesday at an event sponsored by the Koch-funded Americans For Prosperity, King told the audience the following:
- [Climate change] is not proven, it's not science. It's more of a religion than a science."
- "Everything that might result from a warmer planet is always bad in (environmentalists') analysis. There will be more photosynthesis going on if the Earth gets warmer. ...And if sea levels go up 4 to 6 inches, I don't know if we'd know that."
Even though 97% of scientists agree that climate change does in fact exist, King still claims that it's more of a religion than a science. King may want to re-evaluate how he defines science and religion.
Religion is dependent upon faith, whereas science is dependent upon testing, numbers, and hard evidence. Christianity is not a science. We can not ultimately test the theory that Jesus was born from a virgin woman, died on a cross for all of mankind's sins, rose from the dead three days later, and all those whom believe in and worship him shall live eternally in a paradise known as heaven. The only way to know if this theory is true is for us to die and find out what happens as a result. It's not like, through testing, 44% of scientists believe Mary was indeed a virgin when giving birth to Jesus, 31% believe Jesus rose from the dead three days after dying, and 19% believe those whom believe in and worship him will live eternally in heaven. All it's based on is blind faith. Climate change, meanwhile, is something that can actually be observed, and hard evidence has resulted in 97% of scientists believing it exists. Actual data backs up the notion that temperatures have been rising worldwide. These aren't claims that were made 900 years ago in a meteorological sacred book entitled The Holy Climate, where Ten Commandments were given to prevent global warming. This is something that is occurring in the real world - something it seems Steve King and his ilk have a difficulty grasping at times.
When envisioning King talking to a scientist about such matters, the following conversation comes to mind:
Scientist Roger Smartypants: "So, you don't believe in climate change?"
Steve King: "Nope. It's more of a religion than a science."
Smartypants: "How so?"
King: "There's just no proof."
Smartypants: "What about data that showcases rising temperatures?"
King: "Those are just numbers. What's that tell?"
Smartypants: "That the earth is a great deal warmer than it was previously, hence the name 'global warming.'"
King: "That still doesn't prove anything."
Smartypants: "What about the polar ice melting and sea levels rising?"
King: "So? So what?"
Smartypants: "Doesn't that again prove the earth is a great deal warmer than it had been and prove that climate change is real?"
King: "No"
Smartypants: "Alright, so what will have to happen for you to become a believer in climate change?"
King: "I don't know. Nothing that I can think of."
Smartypants: "Are you a Christian?"
King: "Yes, and very proud of it!"
Smartypants: "So, you believe that Mary was a virgin when she became impregnated with Jesus?"
King: "Yep"
Smartypants: "...and you believe Jesus was perfect and died for all of our sins?"
King: "Yes again"
Smartypants: "...and you believe that he rose again three days after dying?"
King: "Yes, sir"
Smartypants: "...and you believe everyone whom believes in and worships him will spend eternity with him in heaven?"
King: "Yeah"
Smartypants: "You really believe all of those things?"
King: "I don't just believe it; I know it!"
Smartypants: "How do you know it?"
King: "I just do"
Smartypants: "Did you ever meet Mary or Jesus?"
King: "No"
Smartypants: "So how do you know, first-hand, that all you believe is true?"
King: "It's in the Bible."
Smartypants: "Did you write that book yourself or were you around the time it was written?"
King: "No, of course not"
Smartypants: "So, how do you know you're interpreting everything in that book correctly?"
King: "I can just feel it."
Smartypants: "Alright... So you believe all of that, which you can't see nor prove, yet you don't believe in climate change, even though it's been documented that the temperatures have been rising, as have the sea levels due to the melting of polar ice?"
King: "Yeah, it's just as much of a religion as Christianity - even more so, because everything in the Bible is true!"
Smartypants: "Are you an idiot? Nevermind. I believe we have enough evidence in our possession to prove that is in fact the case. Thank you for your time."
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/08/07/2429331/steve-king-climate-religion/
During a speech on Wednesday at an event sponsored by the Koch-funded Americans For Prosperity, King told the audience the following:
- [Climate change] is not proven, it's not science. It's more of a religion than a science."
- "Everything that might result from a warmer planet is always bad in (environmentalists') analysis. There will be more photosynthesis going on if the Earth gets warmer. ...And if sea levels go up 4 to 6 inches, I don't know if we'd know that."
Even though 97% of scientists agree that climate change does in fact exist, King still claims that it's more of a religion than a science. King may want to re-evaluate how he defines science and religion.
Religion is dependent upon faith, whereas science is dependent upon testing, numbers, and hard evidence. Christianity is not a science. We can not ultimately test the theory that Jesus was born from a virgin woman, died on a cross for all of mankind's sins, rose from the dead three days later, and all those whom believe in and worship him shall live eternally in a paradise known as heaven. The only way to know if this theory is true is for us to die and find out what happens as a result. It's not like, through testing, 44% of scientists believe Mary was indeed a virgin when giving birth to Jesus, 31% believe Jesus rose from the dead three days after dying, and 19% believe those whom believe in and worship him will live eternally in heaven. All it's based on is blind faith. Climate change, meanwhile, is something that can actually be observed, and hard evidence has resulted in 97% of scientists believing it exists. Actual data backs up the notion that temperatures have been rising worldwide. These aren't claims that were made 900 years ago in a meteorological sacred book entitled The Holy Climate, where Ten Commandments were given to prevent global warming. This is something that is occurring in the real world - something it seems Steve King and his ilk have a difficulty grasping at times.
When envisioning King talking to a scientist about such matters, the following conversation comes to mind:
Scientist Roger Smartypants: "So, you don't believe in climate change?"
Steve King: "Nope. It's more of a religion than a science."
Smartypants: "How so?"
King: "There's just no proof."
Smartypants: "What about data that showcases rising temperatures?"
King: "Those are just numbers. What's that tell?"
Smartypants: "That the earth is a great deal warmer than it was previously, hence the name 'global warming.'"
King: "That still doesn't prove anything."
Smartypants: "What about the polar ice melting and sea levels rising?"
King: "So? So what?"
Smartypants: "Doesn't that again prove the earth is a great deal warmer than it had been and prove that climate change is real?"
King: "No"
Smartypants: "Alright, so what will have to happen for you to become a believer in climate change?"
King: "I don't know. Nothing that I can think of."
Smartypants: "Are you a Christian?"
King: "Yes, and very proud of it!"
Smartypants: "So, you believe that Mary was a virgin when she became impregnated with Jesus?"
King: "Yep"
Smartypants: "...and you believe Jesus was perfect and died for all of our sins?"
King: "Yes again"
Smartypants: "...and you believe that he rose again three days after dying?"
King: "Yes, sir"
Smartypants: "...and you believe everyone whom believes in and worships him will spend eternity with him in heaven?"
King: "Yeah"
Smartypants: "You really believe all of those things?"
King: "I don't just believe it; I know it!"
Smartypants: "How do you know it?"
King: "I just do"
Smartypants: "Did you ever meet Mary or Jesus?"
King: "No"
Smartypants: "So how do you know, first-hand, that all you believe is true?"
King: "It's in the Bible."
Smartypants: "Did you write that book yourself or were you around the time it was written?"
King: "No, of course not"
Smartypants: "So, how do you know you're interpreting everything in that book correctly?"
King: "I can just feel it."
Smartypants: "Alright... So you believe all of that, which you can't see nor prove, yet you don't believe in climate change, even though it's been documented that the temperatures have been rising, as have the sea levels due to the melting of polar ice?"
King: "Yeah, it's just as much of a religion as Christianity - even more so, because everything in the Bible is true!"
Smartypants: "Are you an idiot? Nevermind. I believe we have enough evidence in our possession to prove that is in fact the case. Thank you for your time."
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/08/07/2429331/steve-king-climate-religion/
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