Worms vs Hummingbirds

I read an article today on Sir David Attenborough receiving hate mail for his views on evolution.

When asked why his programs do not give credit to God for creating the natural world, he says he cannot reconcile the notion of a divine and benevolent God with a child in Africa with a worm burrowing through his eyeball.

Sir David also professes to being horrified that creationism and evolution are presented as equal alternative view points in some schools.

Let's compare this with an alternative portrayal of God's relationship with Earth in a book I read recently, The Shack by William Paul Young.

In the novel, the main character Mack and Jesus are enjoying a conversation surrounded by the most picturesque surroundings you can imagine: lake, waterfall, orchard, forest, mountain ranges.

When Mack expresses his appreciation of God's handiwork, Jesus replies that Earth would be even more beautiful if it were not "at war, striving so hard to survive".

Pressed for a clarification, Jesus explains: "Our earth is like a child who has grown up without parents, having no one to guide and direct her. Some have attempted to help her but most have simply tried to use her.

Humans, who have been given the task to lovingly steer the world, instead plunder her with no consideration, other than their immediate needs. And they give little thought for their own children who will inherit their lack of love.

So they use her and abuse her with little consideration and then when she shudders or blows her breath, they are offended and raise their fist at God."

You can say that's just the author expressing the views of eco-warriors and climate change activists.

But that doesn't make his view any less valid or worth thinking about.

Perhaps the thought that God made a perfect world and Man ruined it bothers us because, deep down, we know it's true. Maybe we feel guilty and helpless, and our guilt makes us defensive. If someone were to point out your faults to your face, how would you respond? I know I would get pretty huffed, even if I know what the other person says is the truth.

No one likes being confronted with their own ugliness. It's easier to point the finger at someone else than to say, okay, I'm partly to blame, so what do I do next? How do I make things better?