RELIGION AND THE DEMAND FOR MEMBERSHIP IN ENVIRONMENTAL CITIZEN GROUPS

I test the hypothesis that religious affiliation is an empirical measu re of tastes and beliefs that affect the demand for membership in envi ronmental citizen groups. The number of adherents to Judeo-Christian d enominations per household has a significant, negative effect on state membership rates for nine groups advocating a preservationist approac h to environmental policy, particularly in states with many Catholics, Baptists and Mormons. Religious affiliation has a marginally signific ant, positive effect on membership rates for two sportsmen groups advo cating private stewardship. These results suggest that religious affil iation should also be a significant determinant of constituent prefere nces for environmental policies.