Fundie Explanation of Extreme Weather

[Coyote_Bandit]

I live in JOklahoma, the armpit of the Bible Belt. A fundie I know - and there are fundies everywhere here - was discussing all the extreme and weird weather we've had. The tsunami, the hurricanes, the Indiana tornado, our record heat here. Now this particular fundie works in the medical profession and has two master level science degrees - and so, I guess, felt compelled to explain the weird weather in scientific terms. So just what is causing all this weird and extreme weather? Global warming? Divine retribution or the work of Satan? No! Seems the earth has suddenly and unexpectedly tilted on its axis. Seems this is the explanation this fundie heard on one of the Christian TV networks. WTF?

Yes, I know the earth axis is tilted and the earth does wobble in its rotation. But that has been well documented for quite some time and is nothing new that would explain our recent weird and extreme weather.

Anybody else heard fundies spouting this particular brand of nonsense?

[kevinmc]

1. Sounds like Too Many Fat-Ass Republicans.......

in the USA causing the Tilt.

[hopeisaplace]

3. that's funny, thanks for the wake-up laugh,

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[SeanQuinn]

2. Fundies down the road blamed Katrina on NO's "Satanistic tendencies".

Heh.

[greekspeak]

5. What about all the pukes who lost in this? Divine "collateral damage?"

Why would an omnipotent god who wanted to destroy one city send a big, sloppy water and wind system to destroy it--along with the homelands of many of his staunchest supporters? One would think an omnipotent deity could just break open the levies and flood just what he wanted to. They certainly do not give their omnipotent deity much credit.

[DBoon]

4. Are they insisting this be taught in high school science classes?

After all, it is a theory just like the ones scientists believe in.

[atommom]

6. Probably because it was being pulled to the right!

These people just can't wait to get back to the Dark Ages, can they?

[phaseolus]

7. A careful middle schooler could measure that

um ... *if* it were true, that is. Which, of course, it's not.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. This is a collateral effect of the gullibility necessary to be a fundie.

People will believe all kinds of shit, sometimes from sources other than the official dispensers.

[Ioo]

9. I think it is because Jesus hates Bush, and the red states...

Simple...

http://www.bushsamerica.com/index.php/2005/10/19/the_fundies_do_it_why_can_t_i_jesus_hate

read for yourself

[OldLeftieLawyer]

10. I thought the lesbians caused it all n/t

[Tace]

11. Scientists Believe A Shift Of The Magnetic Poles May Be Underway

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/reversals.html

This link doesn't get into the impact on climate from a pole shift, but some scientists believe it could have a major impact, such as the beginning of a new ice age.

It seems there may be a kernel of truth to what your fundy friend is telling you.

[Coyote_Bandit]

13. Thanks!

Very interesting.

And a far more reliable source than a fundie repeating something heard on a Christian TV network.

[Tace]

15. Here's An Entry In Wikipedia

Magnetic field reversals

Main article: geomagnetic reversal

The Earth's magnetic field reverses at intervals, ranging from tens of thousands to many millions of years, with an average interval of approximately 250,000 years. It is believed that this last occurred some 780,000 years ago, referred to as the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal.

The mechanism responsible for geomagnetic reversals is not well understood. Some scientists have produced models for the core of the Earth wherein the magnetic field is only quasi-stable and the poles can spontaneously migrate from one orientation to the other over the course of a few hundred to a few thousand years. Other scientists propose that the geodynamo first turns itself off, either spontaneously or through some external action like a comet impact, and then restarts itself with the "North" pole pointing either North or South. When the "North" reappears in the opposite direction, we would interpret this as a reversal, whereas turning off and returning in the same direction is called a geomagnetic excursion.

At present, the overall geomagnetic field is becoming weaker at a rate which would, if it continues, cause the field to disappear, albeit temporarily, by about 3000-4000 AD. The rapid deterioration began at least 150 years ago and has accelerated in the past several years, with a total decrease of 10-15% over these 150 years. This change is within the normal range of variation, as shown by study of magnetic fields in rocks, and need not necessarily lead to a reversal.

LINK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_field#Magnetic_field_reversals

[Coyote_Bandit]

17. Thanks!

Again, very interesting.

Sometimes I do wish I had a better science background. Some of this stuff is just fascinating.

[justabob]

16. I've read about that too nt

[Debau2005]

12. My Grandmother believes

that it is divine retribution! BUT AGAINST THE * ADMINISTRATION! haha She is a life long Democrat. She says she does not understand why if * is a Christian, why he does not see that his blasphemous ways are causing the natural disasters. She assures me all well be well when a Dem is in the WH.

[BR_Parkway]

14. It has tilted - too far to the right. All sorts of mayhem, indictments,

scandals, profiteering.

Why does every Republican administration wind up pardoning it's people?