more on MUST-READ article ...

from George Kroupa ... a response to the Sojourners article (see last blog post):

Here are current (2007) figures from the Barna Research Group:

“Catholics (59%) were more concerned about global warming than were Protestants (52%). The same pattern held true among mainline Protestants (59%), who expressed greater alarm than did Protestants with non-mainline church affiliations (49%).”

“The types of Americans who are most concerned about global warming include atheists and agnostics (69%), Democrats (67%), residents of the Northeast (65%), Hispanics (65%), and unchurched adults (64%). Those least likely to describe the problem as a major issue include evangelicals (33%), Republicans (38%), those who are economically downscale (48%), and those living in the Midwest (51%).”

America’s Faith Segments: Diverse Views and Actions Related to the Environment

(1) global warming is a "major" problem

(2) "absolutely necessary" to invest in environmental protection

(3) recycled product in the last month

(4) % of US adult population

	(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
evangelical Christians	33%	35%	71%	8%
non-evangelical born again Christians	55	65	67	35
notional Christians	59	61	78	39
other faiths	62	55	90	7
atheists and agnostics	69	61	82	10

Source: The Barna Group of Ventura, California, www.barna.org.
N=1004; random sampling of adults, January and August, 2007

Although I don’t always agree with the Barna Group’s interpretation of statistical data they collect, the raw numbers indicate that when it comes to environmental concerns Christians have some catching-up to do in relation to unchurched, agnostic, and atheist adults.

While other surveys might produce different results, it is interesting to note these numbers in light of Laurel Kearns’ statements in her Sojourners article.