Can You Believe?

I think Julie Payette is an excellent choice as Governor General and her installation speech was impressive. Someone tweete, tongue in cheek one hopes, that this person who has been an astronaut, has a Phd, and has received multiple honorary degrees makes her feel as though her life has been wasted.

I was disappointed when Payette began her remarks in a recent speech with the words "Can you believe...", then went on to criticize to the point of mockery those who deny climate change and the possibility of a divine creative power. The implication was that anti-science kooks can all be lumped together, including the billions of humans who believe in God.

I am a Christian who is absolutely convinced that climate change is real, as do a vast number of other people of faith around the globe, even though some don't.  I appreciate the respected climate change scientists who are Christians who are motivated toward Earth-care by their religious convictions. And if Her Excellency, the Right Honorable Julie Payette had done some homework she would have discovered that a succession of popes, including Francis, have made statements that are positive about evolution and have been vocal about the threat of climate change. Many other religious leaders have done the same. They also believe in a God who is Creator and wants humans to "live with respect in Creation" as a United Church statement of faith puts it.



While PM Trudeau quickly defended Payette it's been pointed out that the aboriginal peoples of this country with whom the Liberal government is attempting to reconcile have strong convictions about the Creator. Some of the aboriginal claims currently under negotiation are about land considered to be sacred.

I have no problem with Madame Payette colouring outside the conventions of her role, but she does have an obligation to show respect for all Canadians, including people of faith. By accepting this role as Governor General she doesn't have the right to publicly use it for scientism which is a form of fundamentalistism. Or so I believe.

Thoughts?

Before you leave, click on the link to see today's Groundling blog on Britain's new Charter for Trees, Woods, and People http://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.ca/2017/11/charter-for-trees.html