Green Millenarianism
Helen Grady, Analysis, BBC Radio 4
If the case for tackling climate change is backed by science, why do so many green campaigners rely on the language of religion?
I am looking at a clock that is counting down the months, days, hours and minutes until planet Earth reaches “the point of no return”.
As I type, we have 83 months to go. The end of the world, if not exactly nigh, certainly seems to be on its way.
But this doomsday countdown has not been devised by a religious cult or millenarian seer. It is on the website of the New Economics Foundation (Nef), designed to raise awareness about climate change.
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See also: “Eco-spirituality: Perhaps the Vatican should be worried about nature worship“; and “Losing Old Gods, Finding Nature,” an interview with the author of Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future.
(Thanks to Justin Russell and Stephen Hand for the tips)
PERFECTIBILISTS: The 18th Century Bavarian Order of the Illuminati
The Ascendancy of the Scientific Dictatorship
Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism
Fire in the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith
America's Secret Establishment: An Introduction to the Order of Skull & Bones
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 am
Yes, environmentalism seems to be acknowledged more and more these days as akin to a religion and a millenarian movement in the certain quarters of the mainstream. The BBC Radio 4 podcast has some very enlightening admissions about this. Especially how for so many environmentalists it’s far more about changing society than it is about Co2 emissions.
Good find on the Bron Taylor stuff there too. Being that he is a surfer is also interesting as the surfing community globally often espouses pantheistic and animistic beliefs in nature = God. These themes are quite fascinating. Where will this all go? And I don’t think that Climategate, Glaciergate, Amazongate, or any other AGW-gate is going to really hinder this thing’s progress. I feel we may just be along for the ride, spectators to the installation of Gaian worship. I’m quite horribly entranced by it all.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:18 pm
> Where will this all go?
If there is an environmental catastrophe of some sort, in the West, and killing hundredths of thousands (akin to the Indian ocean tsunami or the earthquake in Haiti) - Eco-terrorists will segue from petty anarchist sabotage to outright insurrectionary revolution. The pretext just needs to be spectacular enough. If they ever grab power, then all this millenarianism will express itself like the Great Terror in the French Revolution (killing in the name of Nature and “Natural Right”) or through a party equivalent to the pagan Nazis.
I’m reading an incredible book right now by a new historian: Dan Edelstein, The Terror of Natural Right: Republicanism, the Cult of Nature & the French Revolution. It is incredible in its analysis, and traces the Jacobin terror/totalitarianism to a combination of Natural Right philosophy and the evolving application of a law called Hostis humani generis (’enemy of the human race’). It came out only a couple of months ago, and the guy has put forth a new synthesis and understanding. Also, the myth of the Golden Age is an important addition to the mix. And at the end, he talks about similarities to what occurred in Nazi Germany and the Russian revolution.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
That is quite a terrifying scenario. Hopefully such a thing won’t come to pass. The “Hostes Humani Generis” idea was being mooted in the July/August 2009 issue of Foreign Affairs to deal with Somalian pirates, as was done with pirates back in the day. Don’t know if the re-occurence of the concept in modern times says anything Zeitgeist wise. Maybe it’s back in vogue.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Hmm. Actually, the philosophes of the 17th and 18th centuries operated much the same as think tanks of today. They were the policy wonks, lawyers and internationalists of their day as well. So it doesn’t surprise me that the CFR, Neocons and PNAC would utilized the tried and tested HHG argument. It has a long pedigree all the way back to Roman times, to legitimize massacring pirates (as you mentioned), native Americans, revolution and regicide. Most often it was defined not so much as a crime against humanity, but as a crime against nature.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
“But while such claims are supported by science, some campaigners think it is time to stop relying on apocalyptic messages to convert people to the climate change cause.”
don’t you even pay attention… these claims are not supported by science the IPCC has lied and have continued to be lying ..I agree we need to get rid of Oil as source of energy (I’m all for Green Tech) but the same Cabal of Bankers that sells and controls the flow of Oil are the same ones promoting the FARCE why have over 6,000 patents concerning GreenTech been suppressed in the US each and every year..because it will destabilise the world economy (IE the IMF Rothschild Banking Cabal) and they the Banksters just can’t have that …..wake up and quit telling the public lies…the whole entire galaxy warmed up in the nineties due to irregular sun spot activity… are you saying that man caused this …??? WHAT A JOKE…!!! are you saying that Climategate,(LIES) Glaciergate,(LIES) PolarbearGate (the populations increased by over 20,000 in the 90’s) ArcticICECAPGate (the ice cap is actually increasing) is foundationally and fundamentally wrong and has proven the IPCC and it’s scare tactics to be nothing but a pantload of crap…when you have to lie to get your message out how exactly is your final message framed…oh that’s right its all a lie …even Greenpeace is calling for the resignation of the head of IPCC …how can you not even mention that.?? I can’t believe you are posted on this website … how can you not even point fingers at the truth instead of falsely promoting a well known lie… 83 months left before we all die….whatever wake the F*** UP .. and quit spewing this crap..
“when your Freedoms are OUTLAWED , will you become and OUTLAW …??”
February 5th, 2010 at 11:25 am
It’s just a link to an article that has full relevance regarding the eschatological and millenarian element to the AGW/Green movement Hashishian. Don’t have kittens. I don’t believe Terry endorses the views expressed in that piece whatsoever. It just reveals the religious element to the movement, despite its denials so often, and if you listen to the audio you’ll hear a cross section of “Greenies” fully admitting that their activities are more about effecting social change in a radical way than it is about Co2.
IPCC = tool of global governance.
February 8th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Funny, despite the fact that Canada expelled the Lord’s prayer from public schools back in the 80’s, no one seemed to make much of a stink about the virtual deification of Nature that was taught to us in our environmental science units. Typical of the hypocrisy of the far left! Wittingly or not, Lovelock’s Gaia theory is just a rehash of the Nature goddess worship that permeated other radical revolutionary movements. The Earth, represented as a divine, abundant mother, was a symbol used in Communist art and in the art of the French Revolution. Mother Earth is the perfect patron goddess for a totalitarian state. Since she is Mute, she needs an interpreter to convey her will to the people. No doubt, many a mad dictator would be more than happy to oblige.