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Theoretical Convergence
I suppose we all have some fond memories of Chicken Little who’s misinterpretation of events led to the tragic loss of his friends, including Hen Pen, Loose Goose, Duck Luck and Turk Lurk in the den of the cunning Fox Lox. The sky wasn’t falling, of course, just an hysterical overreaction to some rather innocuous object falling on Chicken Little’s tail. His response to events was terribly wrong.
This children’s tale may be tragic but has become somewhat of a theme song for those who prefer to scoff at real apocalyptic danger that has been lurking since the beginning of time. That is to say that the Doomsday prophets have not been entirely wrong. There has always been some compelling reason for all societies and cultures to believe that the end was near - and it has come and gone for many cultures and civilizations. Think of the Inca or Mayan civilizations - just the remnants are left, and very little of the history.
When we were kids it was the Russians who were coming to end our world either through their misguided politics and economics - or their nuclear bombs. We were taught to get under tables in our classrooms - as if that was any protection in a nuclear holocaust. Many of us will remember acid rain and global cooling, nuclear winter, overpopulation and the “Silent Spring” as recurrent themes of the doomsday scenarios.
However, things are different today. We have a condition that, for want of a more useful term, is being referred to as “Theoretical Convergence.” This is a state where a whole bundle of events converge to create a new paradigm - a new reality demanding a new response. For us living at the start of the 21st Century, we have a foreboding number of events that may be about to consume us. These events may make a nuclear Russia or Iran pale in comparison.
Desertification and the massive loss of top soil is reducing the vital food production areas needed for a global population that will no longer be able to be sustained by this diminishing resource. This reality has been exacerbated by prolonged droughts affecting previously productive farmlands. Africa, China and the South Western vegetable belt in the United States are all under extreme pressure from diminishing water resources. Much of the potable water in rivers and streams is in decline as glaciers that formerly fed them throughout the year are also in decline.
There is a troubling increase in the magnitude of Hurricanes - due probably to increases in the temperature of the ocean. Polar ice caps are melting causing an already alarming rise in the levels of the oceans. This is throwing large populations into near panic due to loss of shorelines and habitat. In the past 50 years there has been an apocalyptic depletion of the world fisheries, reducing another cheap source of food for an overpopulated earth. The permafrost is melting in the Northern region - releasing methane and other greenhouse gasses.
Global warming seems to be causing a general warming of the oceans which may cause massive amounts of methane and other greenhouse gasses to be released from the ocean into an atmosphere already increasing in CO2. Carbon Dioxide is actually, measurably increasing (when we were injecting CO2 into our greenhouses to help the Long English cucumbers in the foot race to harvest the atmospheric levels were about 320ppm [.032%] now it is about 389ppm).
There is a massive concern about the state of the oceans. It has been correctly said that if all life on land ceased - live would continue in the oceans. If life in the oceans ceased so would all life on land. If the sea dies - so do we. One of the most important factors here may be the pH of the oceans. We know that the ocean is a huge atmospheric vacuum cleaner. It takes in CO2 and gives off oxygen - nearly 70% of all the oxygen we breath. However, higher levels of CO2 also means greater acidity in the oceans.
Acidity has to do with pH - which is a measure of acidity and alkalinity measured on a scale of 1-14 with neutral being at about 7. The oceans have historically, and as far as we know, been slightly alkaline - above, say, 8.2. That rate has been measurably dropping over the past 50 years. Here is the problem. The pH is actually a measurement of the power of the Hydrogen ion that is considered to be exchangeable with some other important elements like Calcium and Magnesium. Why is this important? Well most of the shell fish and many of the other microbial sea creatures rely on calcium to provide strong shells and crusts. The lower the pH the more exchangeable hydrogen - the less calcium. It’s simple chemistry really.
Alarmingly, the projections gathered from scientific models regarding the time line of many of these events is constantly being moved up - bringing disaster even closer. The time to act decisively on many of these environmental issues is within the next 10 years - or it may be too late. There is a point when huge ecosystems like the ocean may just switch off because the chemistry is not longer viable.
There is the possible reawakening of the “Ring of Fire” an event that will certainly bring massive change due to volcanic activity and earthquakes - quite beside the effect on ocean front communities from earthquakes and tidal waves.
Climate wars are looming. There is the threat of food and water wars - quite apart from the lingering and festering religious, political, racial, parochial and partisan conflicts that all now seem to take on global significance. If you put too many rats in one cage they will just start killing one another off....
Chicken Little is not, of course a Bible story. However, there are some very relevant statements regarding the end of the world - some very personal.
Peter, who was one Christ’s most prominent disciples and a New Testament writer makes an ominous prediction. “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers have died, everything goes on as it has snce the beginning of creation....
"But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and with water. By water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed (Noah’s flood). By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly men. But do no forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:3-9)
Bible readers will quickly come to the conclusion that something big is about to happen on this earth. We can’t sustain things as they are. What will be the outcome of this change? As far as Bible prophecy is concerned there is a great hope - a redemption of the earth and the establishment of a righteous Kingdom of God on earth. And, the restoration of Eden.
But first, Peter goes on to say, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” Peter saw great calamity coming on the earth before the change finally comes.
It is personal and there is a clear call to action. Peter goes on to say, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” (2 Peter 3:11,12)
Clyde Snobelen
March 2010