Remarks to the Commonwealth Club Michael Crichton (Theme: Environmentalism is really Urban Atheism)

Michael Crichton ^ | September 15, 2003 | Michael Crichton

[FreedomPoster]

I have been asked to talk about what I consider the most important challenge facing mankind, and I have a fundamental answer. The greatest challenge facing mankind is the challenge of distinguishing reality from fantasy, truth from propaganda. Perceiving the truth has always been a challenge to mankind, but in the information age (or as I think of it, the disinformation age) it takes on a special urgency and importance.

[FreedomPoster]

A somewhat long read, but an interesting viewpoint to apply to enviralmentalism and enviralmental whackos.

[snopercod]

Wow! Thanks for posting this.

[billorites]

Very prescient.

Wish he wrote as well in his novels.

[BlackElk]

Ping

[aardvark1]

Long but worth it. Gist however is that we need to replace the religion of environmentalism with the religion of science as if scientist and researchers still live in their innocense in Eden.

The explanation for the decadence of the aboriginal peoples he speaks about is only explained by the real fall from the real Eden when aboriginal Adam sinned against the real God. Only real religion (Christianity) offers a way to reverse the real effects of our sin.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Awesome read. If this were widely distributed (published in NYT sunday mag, for instance) it could destroy the enviro movement.

[EagleMamaMT]

Read later.

[Eala]

Excellent read!! Thanks for posting this.

[FreedomPoster]

Index bump.

[Itzlzha]

This trend began with the DDT campaign, and it persists to this day.

Ah, the legacy of Rachel Carson and AlGore...ist't it a lovely day in Eden?!
Can we please have a "Silent Spring" FREE of the enviroMENTALists and their pagan pantheism that takes MAN out of NATURE?!

At this moment, the EPA is hopelessly politicized. In the wake of Carol Browner, it is probably better to shut it down and start over.

Agreed, but do not forget that LOSER Christie Todd WITLESS!

[Dark Wing]

fyi

[liberallarry]

Great article.

The man really knows how to present his case. I found his statements that those who banned DDT knew they were lying to be especially interesting and worth researching, worth repeating.

And now, just to be a contratrian

Most of us have had some experience interacting with religious fundamentalists, and we understand that one of the problems with fundamentalists is that they have no perspective on themselves. They never recognize that their way of thinking is just one of many other possible ways of thinking, which may be equally useful or good. On the contrary, they believe their way is the right way, everyone else is wrong; they are in the business of salvation, and they want to help you to see things the right way. They want to help you be saved. They are totally rigid and totally uninterested in opposing points of view. In our modern complex world, fundamentalism is dangerous because of its rigidity and its imperviousness to other ideas...We know from history that religions tend to kill people...Religions think they know it all

Keep in mind he's talking about the characteristics of religions in general - all religions.

[denydenydeny]

Brilliant piece.

[EggsAckley]

Excellent article! I love Chrichton's style. Just finished his most recent book, Prey. Interesting plot.

Thanks for posting this.

[liberallarry]

See post #12.

[VOA]

bump

[RadioAstronomer]

A somewhat long read, but an interesting viewpoint to apply to enviralmentalism and enviralmental whackos.

Indeed

Rachel Carson and her "Silent Spring" has done far more harm to this country and our world than she could ever have imagined. This is not unlike the power line cancer scare of a few years ago. Turned out to be total BS.

[FreedomPoster]

I did catch that, and was uncomfortable with that as well. Still, there were some times where some ugly things were done in the name of Christianity. Some of the events of the 30 Years War come to mind.

The general theme of the piece is worthwhile nonetheless.

[Dr. Frank fan]

Probably the best and most sensible thing I've ever read from Crichton. He's certainly come a long way since his vintage 1980s anti-Japanese paranoia rant at the end of Rising Sun....

[RadioAstronomer]

The explanation for the decadence of the aboriginal peoples he speaks about is only explained by the real fall from the real Eden when aboriginal Adam sinned against the real God. Only real religion (Christianity) offers a way to reverse the real effects of our sin.

No. Early man was not decadent. They were survivalists in the literal sense. Eat or be eaten. Fight or die. Remember, we evolved just as the rest of life did on this planet.