How is Global Warming alarmism like a cult?

Question by traderbobhn: How is Global Warming alarmism like a cult?
According to Robert Greene, in his 1998 bestselling book The 48 Laws of Power, power can be effectively achieved by creating a cult like following (LAW 27). This takes 5 easy steps. Lets see how the environmental alarmist have followed them.

STEP 1: KEEP IT VAGUE; KEEP IT SIMPLE.

The alarmist position tends to emphasize (to the exclusion of other factors in the most extreme cases) the role of CO2 as a greenhouse gas, and only give other factors that can impact the earth temperature changes (like the sun) a passive and even dismissive look. They tell people that the oracle of the computer models predict the future of earth. But they keep the complexities and limitations of computer modeling and statistical methods (such as data mining and curve fitting) hidden because they “complicate” the issues as do factors other than CO2. (http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/articles/V3/N6/EDIT.jsp )It’s easier to mobilize people on the basis of a simple solution to a simple clear-cut problem, which climate science is not.

Compare the scientific content of Al Gore’s website ( http://www.climatecrisis.net/thescience/ ) to that of groups opposing the alarmist position (http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/Index.jsp )

STEP 2: EMPHASIZE THE VISUAL AND SENSUAL OVER THE INTELLECTUAL.

Alarmist appeal to fears and emotions. Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” uses images of mundane environmental occurrences (the breaking off of ice from Antarctica) to the extraordinary (Hurricane Katrina) as “proof” of extreme climate change.( http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YmFiZDAyMWFhMGIxNTgwNGIyMjVkZjQ4OGFiZjFlNjc= ) Appeals to animal lovers telling them of coming extinctions and showing polar bears. (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/aiob-ipo022307.php ) And then tell it’s all the fault of CO2 and mostly human emissions of CO2. Like Mr. Gore, many environmentalist shy away from the full on scientific debate and give little if any proof of all this apocalyptic events to come. (http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/articles/V1/N2/EDIT.jsp ) And whenever a report proving some widely held assumption wrong, it gets buried in academic journals. http://www.co2science.org/scripts/CO2ScienceB2C/articles/V2/N12/EDIT.jsp

STEP 3: BORROW THE FORMS OF ORGANIZED RELIGION

The proselytizing about the coming apocalypse using armies of true believing unqualified volunteers is reminiscent of the way Christianity spreads. The zealotry and redeeming actions that individuals must flagellate themselves with are constantly preached. Even the medieval indulgences sold by the Roman Catholic Church have resurfaced in the form of carbon emission offsets. And of course, lets not forget the High Holidays such as Earth Day. (http://www.earthday.org/ )

STEP 4: DESGUISE YOUR SOURCE OF INCOME

Alarmist cry that all those who oppose their view are being financed by the evil oil and automotive multinational corporations. They moan that any research that gives evidence that makes their claims doubtful is being paid with blood money. This of course takes the attention from the billions of dollars that are being provided by governments ( http://ec.europa.eu/environment/funding/pdf/handbook_funding.pdf , http://www.rec.org/REC/Databases/Funders/Default.html ; http://www.epa.gov/epahome/finance.htm ) to research the effects of global warming on everything, but anyone who dissents get’s their funding cut (http://www.CapMag.com/article.asp?ID=4941 ). All the fear mongering pressures politicians to provide all this earmarked taxpayer money.

STEP 5: SET UP AN US-THEM DYNAMIC

As mentioned above, anyone who opposes the alarmist view is demonized as Deniers (equating them to the neo-nazis) (http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/archives/story.html?id=216ca730-10f0-4614-9692-fc37d99cbac3 ) and many even ask for charges of crimes against humanity for them http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewBusiness.asp?Page=\Business\archive\200205\BUS20020529a.html ). http://a4a.mahost.org/fakes.html

Best answer:

Answer by afratta437
you need to include character assassination and defamation of any heretic in the community that betrays the lie.

also the the way the cult has got the media as their spokesman.

another thing is how they’ve gotten people conditioned so no matter what happens weather wise- normal, abnormal or extreme is proof of the lie.

other than that, it is indeed how they are playing the game.

What do you think? Answer below!