Dear Sir,
Regarding ‘The modern war on truth’ by Chris Wright (en January, p.25), yes, there is a modern war on truth, and every generation of God’s people can affirm something similar. Chris Wright rightly calls us to be on our guard. However, I am concerned about the section ‘Undermining truth’, where he refers to Brexit and climate science to illustrate the ‘loss of trust in any kind of truth’. He writes: ‘Facts, or research, or hard realities, are dismissed as mere opinion or ‘pessimism’.’ There is a problem here, as far too much weight is placed on the word ‘fact’. Differences are rarely over facts, but over the interpretation of facts. Rational arguments about interpretations are to be welcomed and should not lead to charges of ‘huge lies’. Proverbs 18:17 is relevant here: ‘The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.’
Brexit is a resoundingly political issue, and it is not surprising that strong contradictory views are expressed. Perhaps the only clear ‘fact’ is that the Referendum result showed a majority for leaving the EU, and this should be central in our assessment of subsequent events and the implications for democracy.
More concerning are the remarks of Chris Wright on climate science. He refers to the ‘quite deliberate and viciously political attack on science’ – which I do not recognise at all! The issue is not an attack on science, but an unbalanced debate within science. The differences are not over facts and research, but over interpretations of facts and research. The issues have been politicised, but this is mainly due to advocates of anthropogenic global warming making the case for vast expenditures of public money to ‘save the Earth’. My own view, as a physicist and as someone who has spent time developing simulations of complex systems, is that the so-called climate sceptics are presenting thoughtful reasoned arguments and that their voices deserve to be heard. Climate sceptics are not part of the post-truth culture. Our concern for truth should make us promoters of reasoned debate on this issue.
As citizens of the UK, we need to be participants in Brexit and not observers. As global citizens, we need to not only show what stewardship of the planet means, but also actively respond to global warming issues. Asking questions about what is true is undoubtedly a good starting point. If we do not analyse these debates fairly, there are implications for our witness to Christ and to God’s truth. In the words of Chris Wright, ‘It certainly undermines our ability as Christians to say that the Gospel is true, or the Bible is true.’
Yours faithfully,
