A Tragedy for all Creation

The May issue of the United Church Observer magazine has a cover article with the title Why the extinction of Argentina's hooded grebe would be a tragedy for all of Creation.

I liked the emphasis on the word creation and I knew that the author, Alanna Miles, would write thoughtfully. The article is about the Hooded Grebe of Patagonia -- no, I'm not funning you.  While you may not have heard of this bird, it appears to be on its way to extinction. Join the club. This water bird of Argentina's deep southern region is disappearing because of climate change, which reduces habitat, along with the introduction of North American mink as a source of revenue. When the mink farms failed, the animals were released and became a previously unknown predator.

Miles points out that all creatures eventually become extinct -- 99% of all creatures in the history of the planet have gone bye-bye. But humans are accelerating the rate of extinction by anywhere from 100 to 1000%. While you might not notice the disappearance of the Hooded Grebe, or feel that it has any measurable value, it can be argued that we are diminishing the planet through forced extinctions, and we really have no idea what reaching the "tipping point" of mass extinctions might mean for ecosystems and the human species.

This is a two-part article and I will be curious to see whether Miles explores the theological and philosophical implications of extinction in the next one -- the capital C part of the title. That wouldn't be easy in a few pages but it is important to consider. Are we compromised spiritually by contributing to the destruction of God's creatures? What does it mean to our relationship with God to act with unbridled hubris? What responsibility do we have as Christians to address these issues, both theological and practical?

Have you read the article? It is available online. Will you choose not to because it might leave you feeling desperate? Does your faith inform your concern about these issues?