Fear of a Dying Planet and Fear of a Dying God: Beliefs About God and Attitudes toward Climate Change in the United States

ABSTRACT Objective Beliefs about the nature of God have been associated with a variety of social and political attitudes in the sociological literature. This study examined how a sense of attachment to God, accountability to God, and the belief in a God who is invested in the national success of the United States—a “patriotic God”—are associated with the pressing concern of attitudes toward climate change. Methods Drawing on data from the 2021 Values and Beliefs of the American Public Survey ( n = 1213), the results showed that stronger belief in a patriotic God was linked with decreased enthusiasm around climate change laws. Results Further, when compared to those with a high attachment to God, both those with a low sense of attachment and agnostics/atheists showed greater approval of laws to fight climate change. By contrast, the results for a link between accountability to God and favoring stronger environmental laws were much less clear. Discussion We discuss our findings in light of current sociological literature concerned with climate change and policymakers who may need to address not only political but also religiously motivated opposition to their aims.