Global warming is one of the many polarizing political issues of the day. Just the mention of it will cause some to predict the earth’s demise and others to deny such an animal exists. Al Gore has long been an advocate for policy changes because of his conviction that climate change is, at least in part, the fault of humans. President Bush will discuss his administration’s global warming policy tonight. So, I read this article – ‘Smoking gun’ for human-caused warming – with interest this morning (thanks to Ben Witherington

“The future is bleak.” According to the article, that’s what scientists are saying. A new report says that human-caused global warming is no longer disputable. Or, at least, that’s the way I read it. It is happening, humans are part of the cause, and it’s going to continue to get worse.

Ben Witherington has posted about global warming several times in the past week, including this morning, which discusses this article. They are worth a read.

• Evangelicals and Climate Scientists Agree on Global Warming (1/18)
• Global Warming and Evangelicals Part Deux (1/21)
• The Smoking Gun – 1600 Page Global Warming Report Out Soon (1/23)

I am not a scientist and admit that I don’t understand all of the science behind it. I don’t always know what to believe when I read things from both sides of this issue (including some linked from the comments in Ben’s posts from the other side.) It seems pretty evident that global warming is occurring. The debate largely seems to be over whether or not it is occurring naturally and will eventually correct itself, or whether humans are causing problems that will be detrimental to the health of the earth and can do anything to stop it (and, perhaps, reverse it.)

I commented briefly on this a while back. The information in Gore’s book and Brokaw’s documentary was pretty interesting, and I hope to read more on the subject in the future. I feel it’s probable that we’ve had some effect on global warming, and many other environmental issues that should be addressed. And, as a Christian, I believe I have to consider such things and be responsible in caring for God’s creation.

Last night, Duke’s women’s basketball team may very well have been contributing to rising temperatures. The Lady Devils were on fire at Tennessee and opened up the game with a 19-0 run. Duke’s first five minutes were pretty impressive. Tennessee, of course, mounted a comeback (especially being at home) and cut the lead to 2 points in the final minute, before Duke held on for a 74-70 win.

Abby Waner had 24 points and Lindsey Harding scored 21 in the win. Duke and North Carolina remain undefeated and ranked #1 and #2. They meet in a couple of weeks in Chapel Hill. It’s unlikely they’ll both remain undefeated before then, with each team having a couple of road games prior to their meeting (including UNC’s trip to Maryland, a likely loss). But, if they remain unscathed until February 8th, that will be the biggest game of the year thus far. It may very well be anyway.