University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2010 The Faithful Skeptics: Conservative Christian Religious Beliefs and Perceptions of Climate Change Wylie Allen Carr The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Carr, Wylie Allen, "The Faithful Skeptics: Conservative Christian Religious Beliefs and Perceptions of Climate Change" (2010). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1013. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1013 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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THE FAITHFUL SKEPTICS: CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PERCEPTIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE By WYLIE ALLEN CARR Bachelor of Arts, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 2006 Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In Resource Conservation The College of Forestry and Conservation at The University of Montana Missoula, Montana May 2010 Approved by: Perry Brown, Associate Provost for Graduate Education Graduate School Michael Patterson, Chair Society and Conservation Laurie Yung Society and Conservation Daniel Spencer Environmental Studies COPYRIGHT by Wylie Allen Carr 2010 All Rights Reserved Abstract Carr, Wylie, M.S., Spring, 2010 Resource Conservation The Faithful Skeptics: Conservative Christian Religious Beliefs and Perceptions of Climate Change Chairperson: Michael Patterson, Ph.D. Global climate change presents one of the most challenging ecological and social problems facing the world today. In order to prevent potentially harmful ecological and social impacts from rising global average temperatures, Americans will need to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; our willingness to do so though is questionable as opinion poll data suggests that addressing climate change remains an extremely low priority for most Americans. Social scientists from across a variety of disciplines have suggested a number of reasons why this may be case; however very few have focused on the ways that religious beliefs are contributing to American perceptions of, and responses to, climate change despite the fact that opinion polls also indicate that conservative Christians are one of the most skeptical demographic cohorts in America when it comes to this particular issue. Recognizing that theologically conservative Christians compose a socially and politically influential population in America, this study investigates the relationship between conservative Christian faith and conservative Christian perceptions of climate change. Using data collected through 35 in-depth interviews with conservative Christians in Dallas, Texas and a hermeneutic approach to interview analysis, this study proposes first that conservative Christian faith does impact adherents’ perceptions of climate change. More specifically, the results of this study suggest five religious beliefs that appear to influence conservative Christians’ views on climate change; these beliefs include biblical inerrancy, God’s sovereignty, human sinfulness, eschatology, and evangelism. These five beliefs do not contribute to participant perceptions of climate change uniformly though. Rather the results suggest ways in which religious beliefs interact with other important factors, leading to a wide range of views on climate change in the sample. These perspectives on climate change range from complete dismissal of its existence to real concern and active engagement including lifestyle changes to reduce carbon emissions. Based on these findings, this study suggests several ways to proceed with both social science research on the intersection between religion and environmental issues and climate change advocacy geared at conservative faith communities. iii Acknowledgements I am greatly indebted to a number of people who made this research possible. Many thanks first to the 36 individuals in the Dallas metro area who so graciously granted me interviews. You welcomed me into your churches, homes, and places of business with smiles and spoke openly with me about very personal beliefs and opinions. The kindness that you showed me serves as a testament to the sincerity with which you live out your faith; Godspeed to you all. I also want to express my gratitude to the professors in the College of Forestry and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Montana whose courses shaped and refined my thinking about the topics explored in this project. I want to specifically thank the Society and Conservation faculty for supporting my academic efforts with several different scholarships and assistantships and Dr. Daniel Williams and the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in particular for your interest and support over the past year. I would additionally like to thank my fellow graduate students in the department of Society and Conservation for the commiseration and encouragement both in and out of the classroom. I owe many thanks to both Dr. Daniel Spencer and Dr. Laurie Yung first for challenging me in the classroom through two of the most interesting and well instructed courses offered at the University of Montana, and second for their invaluable encouragement and feedback on this project as members of my advising committee. Laurie and Dan, you have inspired me to carry on in academia and I look forward to continuing professional and personal relationships with you both in the years to come I cannot possibly thank the third member of my committee, and my advisor, Dr. Michael Patterson enough for the role he has played in this thesis project and my entire graduate student experience. Thank you Mike for taking a chance on a Religious Studies major from the wrong school in Virginia. Thank you for searching high and low for financial support for my studies. Thank you for including me in your own research projects and, in the process, allowing me to learn from your infinite wisdom regarding social science. Thank you for the countless hours of meetings, reading very rough drafts, and preparing the thoughtful responses and comments that made this project possible. Finally, and most importantly, thank you for your encouragement and guidance throughout my graduate studies, you have been much more than an advisor to me, you have been a mentor and friend. If someday I am able to play the same role in a student’s life that you have played in mine, I would consider my teaching career a great success. In addition to my academic family, this research would not have been possible without the support of my parents and siblings; the most enjoyable aspect of my fieldwork was undoubtedly the time I got to spend with you all. Thank you for your unflinching and unfailing encouragement. Finally, I want to thank my wife Austen. You have been the creative thought and motivating force behind much of this research. Thank you. I love you. iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................... iv Tables and Figures .......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Project Justification ...................................................................................................................... 1 Research Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 3 What Lies Ahead .......................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 Research on Public Perceptions of Climate Change .................................................................... 5 Research on the Relationship Between Religion and Environmental Concern ........................... 8 Secondary Sources ..................................................................................................................... 13 Speaking Back - Potential Implications of this Study ................................................................. 14 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3: Methods ....................................................................................................................... 16 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................