New to the ASA list

dohlman@cornerstone.edu
Tue, 28 May 1996 13:57:17 EST

Just a brief hello. Dean Ohlman here. I joined the list for a few weeks to
take part in the feedback on the Dick Wright article (environmental backlash).
Heard Dick present some of this at the AuSable Institute a couple years ago.
My interest is in Christian environmental ethics about which I often lecture
and write. (I was founder and president of the now deceased Christian Nature
Federation -- RIP.) I am editor of the college magazine (the Messenger) at
Cornerstone College and take part in the Christian Environmental Council,
advisory panel to the Evangelical Environmental Network. Looking forward to
a challenging discussion.

On a similar note, I have a question. Being in conservative evangelical
circles, whenever I mention the "big three" environmental "problems": thinning
of the ozone layer, acid precipitation, global warming, the reaction is almost
universal: Those are only conjectures unsupported by science and are merely
a part of a "scare campaign" by environmental organizations to give the
government more control over us and take away our private property rights, etc.
They also declare that there is no hard scientific evidence to support wide-
spread species extinction.

I am curious how members and friends of ASA respond to that. Agree or disagree?
If anyone on this list is interested in critiqueing a couple lists I have put
together on principles of land ownership and land development for Christians
(in the light of environmental degradation), I would love to get your feedback
privately. It you'd like to see the lists, I can e-mail them to you. Thanks.

Dean Ohlman
Cornerstone College
Grand Rapids, Michigan