Favoring animals over human beings?

The Feb. 14 article, "Environmental group gives condoms in crusade for endangered species," is another example of environmental whackoism. Once again we have environmentalists placing a higher value on animals than on humans, albeit indirectly, by blaming human overpopulation.

What exactly is, "human overpopulation?" The term suggests, "too many humans." As a Christian, I believe God intended for humans to "be fruitful and to multiply." I also believe that God intended for humans to exert, "Dominion over the Earth."

Proper dominion implies good stewardship of the resources God has given us, something we often fail to do. Reasonable environmentalism can be considered good stewardship. Nonetheless, I believe that good stewardship means that Earth's resources, including other living creatures, are to be used for the benefit of humans in the best possible way.

To suggest that human overpopulation is the problem is hypocritical at the least and absolute folly at the other end. If one accepts a materialistic philosophy, implying that all life just evolved without divine intervention, one might concluded that human life is no more important than any other species.

However, that also means that human life evolved, and so any action caused by humans is just a part of that evolutionary process. Whether endangered species are being pushed out or not is simply a neutral fact of evolution; it is neither good nor bad. Survival of the fittest is a crucial tenant of evolution, so if certain species are endangered they must not be fit for survival.

Of course, if we believe it is our duty to preserve endangered species, then we acknowledge our duty to exert dominion and admit that humans have a higher standing in the order of creation. So, Center for Biological Diversity, which is it?

Brian Van Dine

Carol Stream