E.O. Wilson's The Creation: A Biologist's Impassioned Plea~
Written: Oct 20 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: compelling and very informative; gives hope; directed to a pastor
Cons: the chapter on fundamental laws of biology went too deep for me
The Bottom Line: It's time for religion and science to form an alliance to address the damage we've caused the natural world.
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| jankp's Full Review: E.O. Wilson - Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on ... |
World-leading biologist E.O. Wilson writes his most recent book, The Creation, in the form of a structured letter to a nameless Southern Baptist pastor in the hope of helping the pastor to realize that science and religion can indeed find common ground rather than be enemies. Wilson grew up in Alabama in that faith, but now describes himself as a secular humanist, one who believes existence is what we as individuals make of it here on Earth. His fervent call for an mutually-respectful alliance between science and religion to save the further destruction of our planet is a very compelling one that a lifetime of study, teaching and love of nature allows him to make.
His 2007 book is the first I’ve read of his books, but he’s won the Pulitzer Prize for two books, On Human Nature and The Ants, and written over twenty altogether. He refers to several of them in his Notes in the back of the book in case we want more explanation of something. In addition Wilson has received over one hundred prestigious awards in science and letters from around the globe.
I think an alliance between science and religion to tackle real-world goals is needed like never before and is way overdue. Wilson makes complete sense to me when he asks the pastor to lay aside the differences to see the things he and the pastor can agree on. He begins The Creation by observing that though they have different worldviews, the defense of living things is a universal value. His statistics are alarming. The extinction rate of species is conservatively estimated to be almost one hundred times more than before humans came onboard and the rate is expected to increase to at least one thousand times more in just a few decades. This is far from natural or a defense of living things.
Wilson argues chillingly that our quality of life depends on the biodiversity of nature for it is the living things that preceded us on Earth and are each masterpieces of biology that provide us environmental security for free and cannot be duplicated. Can a religious person argue with that or that we weren’t commanded to be stewards of our world? Because of habitat loss, pollution, toxins and climate warming that we‘ve caused, the natural world suffers more than we do…yet.
Not surprisingly the biologist is puzzled by the lack of concern for the environment by religious leaders, including the Vatican. I’m puzzled as well. Far too many Americans follow their example, thinking that this world doesn’t matter since the next one is right around the corner. Wilson shows the most frustration with these leaders and even quotes one that imagines that technology can rebuild a better environment that isn’t so primitive. What a joke! What insufferable pride! Can you imagine what God would think of such ignorance and disdain for his creation? It makes absolutely no sense.
But The Creation isn’t simply a criticism of religion, nor a book of just doom and gloom. Wilson revels in his love of nature, especially those species on the endangered list, some of which have been rescued, and the foreign invaders that wreak havoc in Earth’s hot spots and explains why. He’s encouraged by the growing Christian movement in the U.S. to protect the environment and the popularity of an Encyclopedia of Life, a computer program begun at the U.S. National Museum of Natural History where amateur biologists help add to the database, reducing the burden for professionals. Wilson also reveals his own experiences as a Harvard professor of biology and gives good advice on teaching it and how to best encourage your child to be a naturalist as his parents did. There’s a lot to appreciate in this book for scientific and religious people.
At under two hundred pages, The Creation has seventeen chapters with five sections called The Creation, Decline and Redemption, What Science Has Learned, Teaching The Creation and Reaching Across. I found it quite fascinating, especially since I’ve never read him or another biologist before. His fans may find him a bit repetitive, but his target audience is different and so his repetition from previous works like his memoir, Naturalist, seems appropriate.
This may be Wilson’s most moving and important book for its eloquent warning of environmental collapse by the end of the century if its symptoms are ignored. Just as importantly, he gives hope that more people are hearing Nature’s cries.
This is another entry in my Global Warming write-off you're welcome to join. See this page for details: http://www.epinions.com/content_5117288580
Recommended:
Yes
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jankp
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Member: Jan Peregrine
Location: Lincoln, NE
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