E. O. Wilson Inspires Humanists to Cross Boundaries
September 20, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Fred Edwords, (202) 238-9088
fedwords@americanhumanist.org
- www.americanhumanist.org
(Washington DC) Edward O. Wilson, the 1999, Humanist of the Year is on a
mission to save the environment by seeking the help of evangelical
Christians. And today the leadership of the American Humanist Association,
the organization that conferred the Humanist honor, pledged its support for
Wilson’s ecumenical cause.
“He has broadened our thinking,” said AHA President Mel Lipman. “Instead
of just questioning many of the faithful for their otherworldly focus, we
now want to join hands with them in an urgent moral cause we both can
share.”
“Though evangelicals refer to the environment as the Creation while we
Humanists consider it our only home, both of our traditions deeply value
it,” added Roy Speckhardt, the organization’s executive director. “The
Bible speaks of God giving humans dominion over the earth and, in turn,
responsibility for it. Humanists speak of humanity’s evolutionary connection
with the earth and hence the obligation of us all to be good stewards. In
practice, these two ideals amount to the same thing.”
The American Humanist Association, located in the nation's capital, has long
advanced the cause of the environment, having conferred its prestigious
Humanist of the Year Award on such environmental activists and leaders as
Ted Turner, Lester R. Brown, Werner Fornos, Carl Sagan, and Buckminster
Fuller. But, in doing so, it has sometimes antagonized evangelicals.
“We’ve sometimes characterized many evangelicals as just waiting for the
rapture and not caring enough about the planet,” admitted Lipman. “But
Wilson’s new book, 'The Creation,' has led us to recognize and honor the
diversity among Christians of all types, and of religious people in general.
And we see that the goal of saving and protecting the world that we share is
bigger than our differences.”
“While we will remain on opposite sides of the theological divide,”
Speckhardt pointed out, “we can agree to disagree on such matters while
beginning to work hand in hand for something we all cherish. "Everyone needs
to get involved now before it’s too late."
Wilson speaks tonight at the National Cathedral in his effort to reach
across boundaries and inspire every caring person to put aside differences
and recognize the urgency of acting now. The American Humanist Association
will be in attendance.
