DENOMINATIONAL SUBCULTURES OF ENVIRONMENTALISM

Utilizing a national sample, six denominational subcultures are examin ed for average member adherence to dominion belief net of demographic variables. III a test of Lynn White style expectations, denominational subcultures with higher average levels of dominion belief are hypothe sized to have lower average levels of environmental concern and behavi or; likewise, subcultures with lower average levels of dominion belief are hypothesized to have higher levels of environmental concern and b ehavior. In no cases are the hypotheses supported; this indicates that denominational differences in dominion belief do not translate into d ifferences in denominational environmentalism. Two additional findings are also discussed: 1) independent of dominion belief Black Protestan t denominations have lower average levels of environmentalism than oth er subcultures; and 2) religious salience is found to have a positive effect on environmental concern and behavior when dominion belief is s tatistically controlled. Implications of this research for the study o f religion and environmentalism are discussed.