I just zoomed through Nigel Lawson’s new book on Global Warming: An Appeal to Reason. This book does a great job of sorting through the hysteria and hype of global warming. I wish I could get a copy of this book into the hands of every liberal and then get them to read it.

This work takes global warming head on. Granting the lefties all of their suppositions, especially that the temp of the Earth is going to go up five degrees (which is by no means certain), Nigel Lawson demolishes the fear mongering and extreme policies concocted by the left to handle it.

I did a review of An Appeal to Reason that hits the high points of his arguments. But in it I did not go into the psuedo-religious aspect of the Global Warming crowd. Nigel Lawson points out that the geographic areas where global warming alarmism is most popular is in areas where conventional religion is the weakest. He thinks that it has, in some ways, taken the place of religion in that people believe in it, and do small ritual acts in supplication to the concept (such as energy conservation) largely so they can feel good about themselves.

This is an interesting concept. I believe it is true. I have always thought that Communism was as much of a religion as Christianity in the sense that many of its tenets are similar. What is interesting is that many of these secular religions are less tolerant than the truly religious people they tend to look down upon. Communist states always supress the press. The whole concept of political correctness came about in order to stifle argument from conservatives. Oppose any concept that is supported by liberals and you will be looked upon as a bad person. The same thing goes for global warming where if you express doubts in the academic world, then you are hounded out of your position or denied funding. It is truly difficult to even have a conversation with a Global Warming zealot. If you score any points they will cross their fingers in front of them and say “Get thee from me Satan!” – or words to that effect.

In any case, An Appeal to Reason is well worth the read, if only to sharpen up on the state of the argument.