In case you have not yet read the stories (see links at the end of this blog for more information), someone hacked into servers at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in Great Britain. They retrieved e-mail correspondence between some of the world's leading climate authorities who have been warning us of the dire implications of global warming and climate change. However, the correspondence reveals deliberate attempts to "trick" the public by hiding actual data which shows temperatures are, in fact, "on hold" rather than rising. Other emails speak of bullying tactics to assure global warming skeptics would not be considered for peer-reviewed scientific journals and that articles by global warming proponents in said journals would not have to be peer-reviewed. The emails not only exposed deliberate (and successful) efforts to distort scientific data and marginalize those who challenged the deceptive conclusions, but also revealed calculated plans to hide or destroy evidence should anyone try to view their communications through legal Freedom of Information requests.
The implications of this are stunning.
Science has become the ultimate - and unquestioned -- authority for most secularists and naturalists. I can't tell you how often I've been mocked by those who arrogantly declare, "I believe in science - not God." There is a perception that scientists are pure and objective, seeking only truth based on irrefutable evidence whereas Christians are biased and will believe whatever they want to believe while turning a blind eye to the facts. This "climategate" scandal reveals that some of the world's leading scientists might be guilty of such bias themselves. Indeed, in my personal opinion, this scandal has the potential of undermining "science" in the same way the priest pedophile scandal has undermined the Catholic Church - for just as a priest's authority comes from his moral character, a scientist's authority comes from his ability to objectively collect, examine and interpret the data in the search for truth. Climategate shows that scientists have feet of clay as well.
How does all of this relate to the debate over origins? There is a common perception that science supports the theory of evolution and that only Genesis supports the concept of special creation. Objective, observable data is on one side; faith (with all of its bias) is on the other. I, on the other hand, have always contended that the real issues involve the presuppositions and worldviews that we bring to the argument which determine how we interpret the exact same set of data. For instance, a naturalist looks at similar DNA and concludes all of life comes from a common ancestor; a theist looks at similar DNA and concludes all of life had a common Creator. Same data interpreted differently because of different presuppositions. People approach new information from a previously developed frame of reference and it is very difficult to think outside the box. This is true of theologians as well as scientists and anyone who denies this has a naïve understanding of human nature.
The Climategate scientists distorted the data for one of two reasons: either they were so convinced of the rightness of their conclusions that they believed the data had to be an anomaly or they had so much already riding on their theories (in terms of money and personal prestige), that they were going to stick with their conclusions even if they were fraudulent. One motive would be more innocent, but neither is excusable. Likewise, the way in which secular humanists and naturalists have marginalized and sought to discredit creationists, Intelligent Design advocates or anyone else who questions Darwinian evolution is being done for one of two reasons: either they are so convinced that evolution is true that they simply can't consider any other possibility or they have so much riding on it (again, in terms of money and prestige, but also, in this case, what it would mean if there really was a God) that they simply can't and won't consider any alternative.
In either case, Climategate has revealed a major chink in the armor of those who give modern scientists near god-like status. I have nothing against true science; I do oppose godless science (i.e. science that has been hijacked by the philosophy of naturalism) and the belief that science is the ultimate truth. It is meant to be neither. Perhaps it is strangely appropriate that scientists - the high priests of secular humanism - get knocked down a peg or two on this Darwin day designed to celebrate when the dam of naturism broke loose 150 years ago.
For more information on Climategate, see the following links:
Three Things You Absolutely Must Know about Climategate
Junk Science Exposed Among Climate-change Believers
Note: The New York Times reported on this story, but would not reprint the e-mails because apparently "they were obtained illegally and were not intended to be seen by the public." Wow! Quite a position to take by the newspaper that printed illegally leaked classified information about our war on terror which President Bush personally asked them not to publish because it would damage our national security.
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