Are Christians More Committed to Caring for the Environment?

There as a recent conversation on Andrew Sullivan’s blog about atheists, Christians and the environment that caught my attention and I think a response is in order.

The instigator for the discussion was a statement by the Pope that centered around Christians and the environment. His address had this curious statement:

Is it not true that inconsiderate use of creation begins where God is marginalized or also where His existence is denied? If the human creature’s relationship with the Creator weakens, matter is reduced to egoistic possession, man becomes the “final authority,” and the objective of existence is reduced to a feverish race to possess the most possible.

The implication is that somehow atheists are prone to ravage the earth while Christians are rooted in a creatureliness that lends itself to a responsible relationship with the environment.

There was some interesting back and forth at the Daily Dish in response to this. With one person reporting that they’d never met an atheist that wasn’t concerned for the environment and another suggesting that indeed those lower class Europeans are more atheistic and less environmentally aware. I can’t speak to the situation in Europe but in America we actually do have more than anecdotes to rely on in understanding the relationship of faith and the environment.

According to a study reported in the book Unchristian, the actual lifestyle differences between people identifying as “born-again Christians” and those who are "non-born Again Christians" do not are minimal, but surprisingly “recycling was less common among born-again Christians (68 percent versus 79 percent)” - page 47.

A recent pew study on religion and American life states that;

“Although a majority of every major religious group in the United States supports stricter environmental measures, there are some differences in degree. For instance, only slim majorities of members of evangelical and historically black Protestant churches (54% and 52%, respectively) support the imposition of stricter environmental laws. Members of non-Christian faiths, by contrast, are much more likely to believe that stricter environmental regulations are worth the economic costs. More than two-thirds of Jews (77%), Buddhists (75%), Hindus (67%), Muslims (69%) and the unaffiliated (69%) support stricter environmental laws. Further, more than seven in ten atheists (75%), agnostics (78%) and the secular unaffiliated (72%) say stricter environmental laws are worth the cost, with somewhat lower levels of support for environmental regulation found among the religious unaffiliated (59%).” page 104 of linked article

As a Presbyterian pastor with evangelical roots, I am sorry to report that Christians in America aren’t the exemplars the pope makes us out to be. I agree that the church and people of faith should be leading the way when it comes to concern for issues of sustainability and the environment, but it just hasn’t been the case. This reality is one of my motivating factors for writing this blog.

If anyone is interested in exploring more of the connections between faith, food and sustainability I’ll be teaching a class next week through the eministry network called”The Kingdom of God is Like a Farmer’s Market: Exploring the Intersections of Food, Faith and Justice.” Go here and scroll down for the class info.

Comments

[Anna]

I found this post fascinating. My officemate is a born-again Baptist and definitely not of the "earth-saving" belief. Also, I have a very good Catholic friend, highly educated and intelligent who only now seems to be more interested in learning about sustainable food and living.
Just learning, not doing!

We have 2 neighbors who are quite religious but share our views regarding sustainable food, though one chooses for a more protective reason (doesn't want his dtr growing up eating hormone/antibiotic laced beef).

We were driving behind a Prius and there was a Jesus fish on the back. I turned to my husband and said "You don't see that very often" and he knew exactly what I referred to.

[Craig]

Thanks for the comments Anna. I guess we all have our reasons why we care about the environment and sustainability, whether it's hormones or greenhouse gases or whatever. The thing that intrigues me is that I agree with the Pope that there is something very Christianly about caring for the environment. My theology and faith are the vital center of my engagement with environmental issues. But what catches my attention in the above mentioned studies is that there seems to be a gap between the truth the Pope proclaims and the everyday practices of Christians relative to others who make no such claim of faith. I am like you fascinated by it, but also concerned and curious.

[Chris Wheeler]

It seems to me that there is a growing sense, especially in the "born-again" churches, that we live in the end times. If you live in this world only thinking about what will come about in the next life, you probably have a diminished sense of responsibility for the future of Earth and the people that will follow behind you ("drill, baby, drill" comes to mind). There is also a growing "Transhumanist" movement that many Athiests follow that basically predicts we will dramatically increase the average human lifespan within our lifetimes and completely transform what it means to be human because of accelerating technological progress. I guess if you literally think you will live forever (on Earth) you better take care of the place. It seems that many other religions put nature at the center of their beliefs (especially Buddhism) where in my experience, Christians seem to take the "dominion over animals, land, etc." a bit too literally. I wonder how this survey would have broken down 50 years ago when the term "environment" just described the place you lived?

[April]

Chris Wheeler pretty much summed up both of my arguments/POVs on this... the dominion over the earth/animals part of the Christian religion as well as the "Jesus is coming again any day so who cares about preserving the earth for the future" sentiment that seems to be the domain of older Christians.
From an atheist's POV, anyway, that's what I see.

[Anna]

I am not well versed in all aspects of Christianity but it does seem that the tenet of "All creatures great and small" and the general message of Jesus to forgive and love seems at odds with other messages in the Bible regarding man's dominion over all living beings. So how does one choose which to believe?
If the criticism of the "dominion over all" mentality is that it was a different time/era, then other aspects of Christian belief become victim to the same argument. I think for traditionalists and the born-again, they would wonder "where does it stop?"
And that's a line they just don't want to cross.

[Craig]

Anna,
Thanks for the comment.
I can only speak from my experience with the Bible but I don't see a contradiction between dominion or stewardship and the call to love neighbor. I think "dominion" has certainly been misunderstood as a free pass to do exploit, but I hear it as a call to "take care of."

One of the things we tried to do in our year long experiment is frame our choices of consumption based on an ethic of loving our neighbor, caring for people. My assumption, naive as it may be, is that if we were to live into that ethic that it will by necessity lead to good stewardship of the land and the earth. That's me sorting through Jesus' command to love neighbor as yourself.

I hear you here talking about the slippery slope argument, where if we revise anything along the way we're doomed to slide all the way into the abyss of relativism. I've certainly heard that argument plenty. I'm of the opinion that there is no avoiding slipping around trying to sort through things so let's all grab hands and shuffle around together.

[Anna]

I completely agree with you. I always found it surprising that my religious friends were the least likely to take steps to care for the environment, I thought/expected them to be in the front lines. It may be as one of the other posters said, that the care of the soul preempts care of the world. I don't know. These are just my own musings...Thank you for writing back!

[Craig Sr.]

I might offer an alternative perspective. It should not be surprising that Christians aren't as likely to identify themselves as "environmentalists" as are atheists or agnostics. Christians are typically more conservative in their social views. The label "environmentalist" conjures up negative images to many Christians and it is these images, not necessarily their own actual "behavior" that is being reflected here. The data does not say that Christians are less likely to recycle or that Christians are less likely to embrace conservation practices in their own lives. Although Christians may be less willing to impose their environmental values on others, due to more conservative social views, it does not necessarily translate into being less environmentally aware or conscious.
As it turns out, I happen to know a Christian family in the Spokane area that is very devoted to a sustainable lifestyle and at the heart of it is their faith. I wonder who.
Let's stop focusing on labels and get back to being responsible for our own behaviors.

[Michelle Sidles]

Oh my gosh. Finally! A post that addresses my frustration! :) I am a "born again" christian although recently have taken to the label "christ-follower." :) Anyway, I owned a Prius, have a compost pile, recycle, and am authentically concerned with our environment. As a christian I believe strongly that our dominion (and therefore care of the planet) has been replaced by domination (and abusive practices) or at least a "why bother" attitude.

I am ONLY speaking from my experiences with limited numbers of christian friends. But I am mercilessly teased about my green ways by christian friends. :( It's like they are so focused on the eternal (heaven) that they think what they do now (temporal) doesn't matter, in terms of the environment. At least that's the message my friends have been giving me.

My two cents.

Love the post. Great conversation.

[Craig]

I've had similar experiences and frustrations Michelle. Thanks for chiming in.