by Chris Bodenner
A reader writes:
Both of these views are terrible caricatures of the environmental debate. I think we are more and more apt to find that religion (or a lack thereof) has very little to do with how people respond to and appreciate nature. It's far too easy to assume that the vast majority of decisions we make are a direct response to whether or not we believe in God. I'd say that good parents are more likely to treat the environment with respect due to their concern for their children as opposed to most young people. But even from that perspective everyone is still behaving out of self-interest, not out of regard for a higher power.
Another writes:
Daniel Florien may not have met any atheists unconcerned with the environment, but I believe that is because of his US-centric viewpoint. In my experience, in Europe, tables are usually turned around, with catholics being far more in favor of preserving the environment than the majority of atheists. The reason for this is that such position has less to do with religious affiliation (or lack thereof) and everything to do with eduction levels. In Europe, the lower classes (education-wise) tend to be atheistic (communists, anarchists, marxists, etc) while in the US is the other way round.
The Dish 