Letter To A Southern Baptist Minister Rhetorical Analysis

In recent decades, concerns for the state of Earth’s ecosystem and biodiversity has dramatically risen. The race to slow and possibly reverse the process of the destruction on Earth is one with differentiating views dependent upon beliefs. In “Letter to a Southern Baptist Minister” by Edward Wilson, he writes to a Baptist minister proposing that religion and science should join forces to save Earth’s ecosystem and creation from continued pauperization. Wilson does an excellent job of establishing this unheard of claim with a rogerian approach and reinforces it with rhetorical appeals. In the opening paragraph, Wilson explains that he no longer practices the Baptist faith (400). However, Wilson is quick to establish a common ground with …show more content…
Wilson explains that he writes this letter for the pastor’s counsel and help (400). Wilson’s goal is to save all of creation. Wilson is hoping that if religion and science can join forces toward a common commitment, then they could possibly save future generations. There are two parts to Wilson’s explanation; the first being that Wilson talks of religious leaders and the second being Charles Darwin. First, Wilson mentions how the majority of Christians believe God will come back to Earth, take all Christians to heaven with him, leave the Earth, and leave all the non-believers in damnation (402). Wilson intently believes that if religious leaders could persuade people, regardless of their beliefs and faith, that they should treat the Earth better, it would be a tremendous betterment for future generations. The world is God’s arena of glory. Any biblical environmentalist could agree that creation glorifies God. We answer what He calls us to do and to Him for our stewardship of the Earth. I think this is one of Wilson’s best points because here he is holding the pastor and his community accountable on how they treat the