Letter to a Southern Baptist Minister
Edward O. Wilson is an evolutionary biologist who grew up in a strong Christian family. Although he was exposed to strong beliefs for most of his childhood, he no longer is a member to that faith. With so many growing problems in the world today we all have to do something to try to stop it. Wilson writes a Baptist that he thinks should help with one large problem going on in the world today. Wilson states that “The creation-living nature-is in deep trouble. Scientists estimate that if habitat conversion and other destructive human activities continue at their present rates, half the species of plants and animals on earth could be either gone or at least fated for early extinction by the end of the century”(464). After stating this anybody could very well ask, why choice faith? Wilson beliefs that if faith and biology were combined they could easily solve this problem. Everyone wants a better place for their children and strive to achieve this at every aspect of their lifestyles. Yet, in reality we are doing the opposite. Why haven’t any religious leader done anything to stop this with all the power they hold? Do they only care about preparing for their afterlife? This is very concerning to Wilson because many people believe that the world will end in the near future. Many people who believe in the Christian faith agree that the world will end in their own lifespan. Why though is it that they believe that what every little mistake you made on earth, like not believing in some god, you will be paying for the rest of your life and afterlife? How can any faith that is supposed to stand for peace and love ever do such acts to others and believe this will happen to anyone who does not believe in their beliefs? Although we all believe in different things we all have to share this plant we call home. This is why Wilson believes that science and faith should be put together this once and do some change, we have to stop people from destroying their home.
Wilson’s letter to a Baptist minister was very intriguing to me. I completely agree with Wilson’s thesis and other ideas. I would never think to combine biology and religion because they are such controversial theories. For centuries people have fought other which theory is right when considering how humans were put on earth. Both biology and faith have completely different ideas pertain to this. So why would you combine these two powers when they believe in different things? Wilson believes we need to set aside the difference in both powers in this life or death situation. When it comes to putting aside differences and trying to fix this planet I agree with Wilson completely. Faith and biology are two very powerful sources of insight. In this crazy world we need to rely on something to believe in so we have less to worry about. This being either faith or biology, we need to know why humans were put here on earth and both ideas achieve this. This being said we are faced with a huge problem that threatens are life’s and lifestyles. So like Wilson I know we have to do something to stop people from destroying are home. Could faith and biology be the answer? Wilson also points out how some religions only seem to care about their afterlife and will do anything to secure a good one. Treating people like outcasts just because they do not believe what you believe is wrong. Why should anyone have to suffer for believing what they do? It is not right to tell people that they will suffer in hell for the rest of their afterlife. I was raised to believe what I wanted but not to force it on others. There is no justification for anyone to force believes on anyone else. Then if you do not trust these ideas, that makes you a bad person and deserve to burn in hell. In final consideration, I would never think of combining the two but I do think it needs to happen sometime in the near future to fix this possible catastrophic event. We all need to do are part and try to stop this from happening; this either being Wilson’s way or your own.
