A "Greening" of Religion? Some Evidence from a Pennsylvania Sample

Surveyed 3,632 Ss to analyze the impact of religious affiliation and church attendance on environmental attitudes and behaviors. Ss responded to questions clustered around the acceptance of ideas in 3 major areas. These were the need to preserve the balance of nature; the belief that growth should be limited in order to sustain the environment; and the notion that humans are part of, rather than the rulers of, nature. Environmental behavior, religious affiliation (i.e., Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, no affiliation, or other), and frequency of attendance at worship services were also assessed. Church attendance was negatively related to environmental attitudes. When attitudes were controlled for, however, there was a net positive relationship between church attendance and environmental behaviors. Specific religious affiliation was not a significant factor affecting environmental attitudes and behaviors.