With God On Our Side

Extinction is not a problem caused by humans. It is a method by which a species succumbs to obsolescence. Extinction has been occurring ever since life began to compete against itself. Aren't we humans but one knot in the intricate web of organisms living on planet Earth? If we cause the extinction of another animal, aren't we merely one of the many harbingers of natural selection?

A successful population of animals may dominate a defined area, and within this area other less successful species may die out. This leaves, however, all other populations of the less successful species intact. If a species faces extinction, then its inability to cope has undermined it time and time again, in all regions within which it has attempted survival.

Through globalization and the exponential growth of the human presence, the many human populations and the defined areas within which they live have essentially merged. Thus the actions of the human population begin to affect all regions simultaneously, erasing the potential refuge of individual populations of species. This of course also puts us at significantly greater risk, for without isolated populations of humans, circumstances in our environment wiping out the population of humans will result in immediate extinction, just as it has with other species.

So we have made natural selection more efficient. We haven't invented anything new. Our intelligence has allowed us to take natural advantage in a way that has never occurred before. The question is whether our intelligence will allow us to see full circle and realize the dangerous game we're playing. Nature shows no compassion. She's out to breed winners, and if we begin to lead ourselves to our own demise, she'll have no trouble helping us to the door.