Question

This passage is excerpted from a historical review of the American conservation movement.

To John Muir, the wilderness was a cathedral, a sacred sanctuary whose value lay not in what resources could be extracted from it, but in its ability to offer spiritual renewal. When Gifford Pinchot advocated for the 'wise use' of forests, viewing them as crops to be harvested sustainably for human benefit, Muir felt a profound sense of betrayal. He regarded Pinchot's utilitarian conservation not as a compromise, but as a dangerous concession to commercialism. Yet, despite his fierce opposition, Muir's writings were rarely bitter; instead, they were infused with a passionate reverence for nature that aimed to elevate the reader's consciousness rather than merely condemn his opponents.

Based on the passage, the tone of Muir's writings in response to utilitarian conservation is best described as which of the following?