Abstract

Utilizing a national sample, six denominational subcultures are examined for average member adherence to dominion belief net of demographic variables. In a test of Lynn White style expectations, denominational subcultures with higher average levels of dominion belief are hypothesized to have lower average levels of environmental concern and behavior; likewise, subcultures with lower average levels of dominion belief are hypothesized to have higher levels of environmental concern and behavior. In no cases are the hypotheses supported; this indicates that denominational differences in dominion belief do not translate into differences in denominational environmentalism. Two additional findings are also discussed: 1) independent of dominion belief, Black Protestant denominations have lower average levels of environmentalism than other subcultures; and 2) religious salience is found to have a positive effect on environmental concern and behavior when dominion belief is statistically controlled. Implications of this research for the study of religion and environmentalism are discussed.