We were appalled by Carl Pope's "Reaching Beyond Ourselves" ("Ways & Means"
November/December 1998). It is religion that keeps birth control from being
taught and practiced, it is religion that says "God takes care of everything so
we don't have to," it is religion that promotes greed, stupidity, selfishness,
closed-mindedness, faith in the nonexistent over facts and science. For the
Sierra Club to go crawling on its knees to these forces of darkness is obscene. Guy and Victoria D. McCoy
Glen Haven, Colorado
The words population and growth do not appear either in "The Second Creation
Story" or in Carl Pope's "Reaching Beyond Ourselves," which claims that
environmentalists and religions are natural allies.
Human population growth is the root cause of every environmental problem and many
of our economic and social ones as well. Yet no major religion is advocating an
end to population growth. Au contraire, many of them-fundamentalist Christian,
Mormon, Muslim, and especially Catholic-aggressively oppose birth control and
push high birthrates.
Claiming that environmentalists and religions are allies in protecting the
environment is only logical if you first make the illogical assumption that human
population growth does not affect the environment. Obviously both popes, Carl and
the one in the white beanie, have made that assumption. Thomas P. McKenna
Montpelier, Vermont
KEEP THE FAITH
Finally, a breath of fresh air! For too long I have been waiting for the words
love and beauty to return to the secular and scientific approach to environmentalism-
for without these words, where do you think the motivation will come from
to inspire us to action? I loved every article in the "Religion and the
Environment" issue (November/December 1998) and would like to see more on this
topic. We know how bad things are. What we need is a way to be involved that lifts
our spirits toward the common good. Together we create hope. Jashana Kippert
Hana, Maui
We definitely need input from all the world's religions (especially our Native
American) in addressing environmental problems. All religions have a heritage of
stewardship for the environment, and the problems cross international borders. It
is appropriate for the secular and the religious to join hands in the monumental
task that faces us. James R. Sauer
Wooster, Ohio
Thank you for exploring so well the connection between our desire to understand
where we fit in the infinite universe and how we interact with the earth that is
our home. I hope that you will continue to explore the connection between
religion and ecology. The best and, in my mind, only hope for changing the
pattern of events that is destroying so much life and beauty on Earth is for more
people to appreciate the value of humility. Humility always precedes
understanding and can only be safely maintained when one has a close relationship
with the Great Creator. Aaron R. Kelson
Spotsylvania, Virginia
WHAT GOD MEANT?
You can read way too much into God's exhortation to Adam and Eve to "subdue" the
earth and have "dominion" over nature. If I go on a trip and leave someone at my
house, I may say, "You're in charge; do what you think best." That does not mean
my caretaker is now free to trash my place, sell my furniture, destroy my yard
and trees, kill my animals, and upon my return say, "You put me in charge." Those
who treat their stewardship of God's world as a license to destroy it are
blasphemers, not Christians, and the fact that they hide under the cloak of
Christianity should not fool anyone. The world does not belong to us, and not
only must we protect it, it is our duty to make it better. George Macdonald
Bay Village, Ohio
ON APOLOGIES
I couldn't believe what I was reading in the November/December issue: the
executive director of the Sierra Club apologizing to the religious community!
Thank you. I had quit the Sierra Club a few years ago largely because I felt it
was antagonistic to my beliefs as an evangelical Christian. Recently, I decided
to give it another chance, and lo and behold, I find Carl Pope recognizing the
need to include people of faith in the environmental movement.
Yes, largely due to cultural prejudices, many Christians have been guilty of
ignoring our biblical mandate of creation stewardship. But with growing
recognition of the breakneck pace at which we are losing our natural legacy,
mainstream Christians are now putting stewardship into the forefront of our
obligations. Thank you for reaching out to include us! Kenneth Liu
Bethesda, Maryland
I object to Carl Pope's apology on environmentalists' behalf for ignoring
religion all these years. In this country, as generally worldwide, religion has
been one of the biggest causes of and justifications for anti-environmental
behavior. Ignoring it was the most polite thing we could do under the
circumstances. Now minority strains in the religious community are starting to
inch their way toward a pro-environment stance. We should welcome this, but no
apologies are in order. Michael Cosgrove
Seattle, Washington
DESERT RATS
Thank you for featuring the new Utah wilderness inventory in your November/December issue
("Paradise Found"). Here in California, a recently formed statewide grassroots
organization-Californians for Utah Wilderness-is devoted to securing passage of
H.R. 1500 (America's Red Rock Wilderness Act). We invite the many Californians
who love Utah to become involved. Membership is free. For more information,
e-mail mjp@sirius.com or write to CalUWild, 875 Clayton St., San Francisco, CA 94117. Michael Painter
San Francisco, California
HILL AND HOLLOW
I was sickened to learn in "Coal Miner's Slaughter" ("Lay of the Land,"
November/December) that mountaintop mining has already eliminated 81 square miles
of mountains and covered 460 miles of streams. These streams are important in
bringing water to main rivers, which will become polluted as well if this mining
continues. Besides the crimes committed against nature, neighborhoods are being
disturbed by dust, noise, and blasting. This mistreatment must be stopped. West
Virginia wildlife and tourism are much more valuable to
the state in the long run than the short-term profits of coal mining. Paul Votto
Newark, Delaware
CORRECTION
We incorrectly defined the protist kingdom in-of all places-the "Letters"
corrections section (November/December 1998). So we'll try again, this time relying on a live biologist, not an
obsolescent encyclopedia. "Algae and protozoa are generally considered to be in
the kingdom Protista, though there is some difference of opinion among biologists
on this," says Dr. C. T. Oswald of Southern Oregon University. "Fungi are in a separate
kingdom-Fungi-and bacteria are generally placed in two others-Archaea and
Eubacteria."
Sierra welcomes letters from readers in response to recently published articles.
Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Write to us at 85 Second St.,
2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441; fax (415) 977-5794;
or you can e-mail us at:sierra.letters@sierraclub.org
