“Reading Berger’s essay, it is hard not to see the rise of climate alarmism as a Western form of the second of these trends, as left-leaning environmentalists, schooled in cultural relativism, reduce the complexities and uncertainties of climate science to a singular unquestionable truth: catastrophe looms unless we take urgent action. “Repent now or pay later” is the solemn warning of the Stern Report.”

Yes!

I would suggest that the fundamentalists are on the other side of the culture wars divide. The fundamental arbiter of what is true and real in western culture is the one dimensional ideology/religion of scientism. It is a disposition whereby one abstracts quite literally everything into clockwork components. All other more holistic ways of being in the world have been systematically elimininated--- and the latest technique used by its dogmatic thought police is to dismiss any and every other possible way of relating to and understanding human beings and the WORLD PROCESS, of which we are an integral part, with the term "relativism".
One dimensional clockwork man rules OK!
Peter Berger is also in effect a propagandist for this clockwork world because his "religious" understanding is entirely (mis)-informed by the equally one dimensional reductionism of exoteric religion---no ecstasy or paradox allowed!
Never mind that we live in a quantum world of space-time paradoxes in which EVEREYTHING is inter-related and yes there are multiple ways of looking at quite literally everything. Even (or especially) science acknowledges this quantum understanding of how things work. This understanding was signalled by Einsteins E=MC2, Heisengerg's Unceratainty Priniple and so on etc.

A very timely article, Richard. Well done.

Its funny how those who claim not to believe in absolutes are so dogmatic in defending their opinions, quick to pick up on spelling errors and intolerant of those who do believe in absolutes. The earth worshippers are among the best examples of this. Many of them have more 'faith' than Christians. They have faith in the hopelessly flawed evolution theory, the global warming myths and many other wild theories.

Speaking of one dimensional clock work man has anyone ever noticed that most of the so called "conservative" writers on this forum are affiliated either directly or indirectly with the IPA. I think Richard Castles is. Des Moore and Tom Quirk are too. And I would suggest that Graham the number one honcho of this forum is too?
The IPA being in effect the champion of the one-dimensional clock work "world" created in the image of scientific materialism. And also of equally reductionist exoteric religion. Exoteric Christianity of course being the only allowable "religion".
All others being dismissed asexercises in cultural relativism. Never mind that exoteric Christianity has only been around for less that 500 years. Hinduism and Buddhism with their profound ESOTERIC (quantum) understanding of Reality with a capital R for over 2500 years.

Nero fiddles while Rome burns. A few sceptics may make a few others breathe easier, but if they wrong, which it looks like they are, then, indeed, the future is bleak. The strategy is to cast doubt as the sceptics seem to have a minority of scientific evidence. This is not enough. I'm sceptical as to who may fund the disenters as there is money at stake. treyster