"On the other hand, our society is increasingly making a religion of science. Rather than skeptically viewing outrageous claims, we treat a white lab coat as if it were vestments. "Science" says something, and we act as if it were some sort of absolute truth rather than merely a theory with some degree of uncertainty attached."

I agree. To be clear though this is not science at all that they worship, but a mysterious force and impressive paraphernalia referred to as "science".

"Witness Al Gore claiming that New York City will be drowned under rising oceans in the near future."

He never said near future. He said if Greenland or WAIS or half of each melt then here is what you get. This is true. And they will melt if emissions continue as they have, in a thousand years or so. The basic physics of why this will happen are actually pretty easy to understand.