This week ended very badly for James Lee. Maybe the 43-year-old militant environmentalist expected September 1 to be his last day—a suicide mission seemed consistent with the activist’s manifesto that humans, particularly babies, are pollution and are polluting the planet.
Armed and wearing what appeared to be bombs attached to his body, Lee entered the Silver Spring, Maryland, headquarters of the Discovery Channel, which he had targeted on other occasions for its “pro-birth” programming, such as the Duggars‘ 19 Kids and Counting. Taking three hostages, he attempted to capture the world’s attention while reiterating his message that people are wreaking havoc on earth and must stop having “filthy human children.”
Every issue has its spectrum, and Lee demonstrates the far reaches of a biocentric perspective that, at its core, sees humans as no higher or better than other life forms. At this point in our history, Lee and those sharing his view contend that humans have overextended themselves as a species to the demise of thousands or hundreds of thousands of other species.
At the other end of the spectrum is the anthropocentric perspective that says only humans have minds and souls, so only humans matter. Earth was given to humans to meet our physical needs while we developed our souls. We come to know God and ourselves in this temporary earthly existence as we work, relate, and create using our God-given abilities.
A centrist perspective, captured by creation-care groups such as the Evangelical Environmental Network, falls between these two. Departing from the biocentric view, this perspective holds that humans are different from other species because God’s likeness is woven into our being and we are tasked to represent God on Earth. Unlike Lee, this view holds that humans are cherished and loved by God. Departing from the anthropocentric view, however, the creation care perspective brings to the fore that God created and loves the Earth, and that we honor God when we love, celebrate, take joy in, and foster the flourishing of all life. Perhaps forests do not exist primarily as wood supplies for our homes, but also as homes for forest flora and fauna and to sequester the carbon dioxide that helps keep our climate stable.
I cringe at the James Lee story—both because of the loss of life (in this case his; he was shot after four hours of failed negotiations) but also at how much damage extremism does where thoughtful conversation is needed. I find his actions and language egregious. But I also hope Christians can have a conversation about the issue that Lee obsessed about. When any species’ population gets out of control, we confront a problem of overusing resources all species need to flourish or even survive. If we humans have over-extended ourselves, growing our population to a point that causes problems for other humans around the world, not to mention other species, then I have a responsibility to respond. The response may mean that couples need to consider having none or only one or two children, and expanding through adoption if they want large families. A Christian response will require all of us to learn to live more gently on the earth.
This summer, Christianity Today asked several writers (including myself) to comment on the General Synod of Australia’s statement urging citizens to have fewer children. Australia is on its way to overpopulation, and as a way to uphold the Eighth Commandment and care for future generations, the country’s Anglican church wants the government to offer incentives to parents to have fewer children.
Christians believe humans have a unique place in creation as God’s image-bearers, and we also acknowledge a responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation. We are God’s beloved, commissioned to represent God in the world. We are called to love and to bring the gospel to a world crying for redemption. This may well include making hard choices as stewards of creation to help all life flourish.
Lisa Graham McMinn is professor of sociology at George Fox University and co-author most recently of Walking Gently on the Earth: Making Faithful Choices About Food, Energy, Shelter and More. She has written for Her.meneutics about ‘femivores,’ 2D love, happiness, and beekeeping.
