I just read with interest the essay on Mormonism and
environmental ethics (HCN, 12/22/03: Being Green in the Land of the
Saints). It’s always a learning experience to read about how
individuals cash out their own views within the framework of a
larger entity, in this case Mormonism, and the positions held by
various founders and leaders. But it seems extremely narrow to
write about an “environmental ethic” without considering the fate
of animals.
While surely there are notable exceptions,
some of the historical events that were sanctioned by the Mormon
Church leave much to be desired. Brigham Young supported the
killing and extirpation of “wasters and destroyers,” including
wolves, foxes, wolverines and bears, and there also are
well-documented accounts of the heinous slaughter of prairie dogs
that were sanctioned by the Church.
In my view,
dismissing animals from a discussion of environmental ethics is
perhaps more egregious and self-serving than putting issues about
population control aside. Indeed, while there are many wonderful
individual Mormons who hold admirable positions on environmental
issues, as a whole, I don’t see how Mormonism can be rated
highly for promoting and enforcing a comprehensive environmental
ethic that respects animals for the amazing beings who they are,
individuals who are very important — some might say essential
— for maintaining the integrity of innumerable precious
landscapes and ecosystems.
Marc
Bekoff
Boulder, Colorado
The writer is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Are Mormons really green.
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