US believers favor international action on climate change, nuclear risk: poll
Though most believers in the research do not consider addressing environmental and nuclear risks to be spiritual obligations, they do understand these issues as a part of "good stewardship," the study finds. Credit: Image: Wonderlane/Creative Commons
A majority of Americans professing belief in God favor cooperative international efforts to combat climate change and the spread of nuclear weapons - branding it a moral obligation - says a new public opinion poll conducted jointly by the University of Maryland's Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM) and its Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA).
The nearly 1,500 Americans surveyed include large numbers of Catholics and Evangelicals.
The study,"Faith and Global Policy Challenges: How Spiritual Values Shape Views on Poverty, Nuclear Risks, and Environmental Degradation," also finds that a majority of believers consider addressing global poverty a "spiritual obligation," and think that the United States should work cooperatively with other nations to reduce it.
"This research challenges common political stereotypes that pigeonhole religious Americans as liberal or conservative on environmental and nuclear proliferation issues," says University of Maryland Public Policy Professor and study co-author John Steinbruner, who directs CISSM.
"These findings demonstrate the public's strong moral impulse to address global policy challenges - an impulse that if applied properly could break the current impasse on these issues," Steinbruner adds.
Though most believers in the research do not consider addressing environmental and nuclear risks to be spiritual obligations, they do understand these issues as a part of "good stewardship," the study finds.
"While for many believers there is a tenuous connection between their spiritual values and issues related to the environment and the risk of nuclear war, they are nonetheless very responsive to the idea that there is an obligation to protect God's creation, or to be good stewards of the earth," explains study co-author Steven Kull, director of PIPA.
SPECIFIC FINDINGS
STEWARDSHIP: 3 out of 4 believers embrace the idea that they have an obligation to act as good stewards of the environment; 4 out 10 believers say the obligation to be a good steward of the environment includes the obligation to prevent nuclear war.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: 2 out of 3 believers agree that there is an obligation to care for God's creation by supporting environmental laws and regulations.
BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Majorities of believers approve of the United States entering into binding international agreements aimed at protecting the environment (including by reducing greenhouse gases) and reducing the risk of nuclear war.
- 7 in 10 believers reject the argument that reducing greenhouse gases would be too harmful to the economy, instead favoring the idea that it will help the economy in the long rung through greater energy efficiency.
- 8 in 10 believers support negotiating an international agreement to lower the number of nuclear weapons on high alert.
- A majority of believers support pursuing the elimination of nuclear weapons.
SAMPLING ERROR
The poll was fielded from September 9 to 19, 2011 with a sample of 1,496 adult Americans. The poll was conducted using the web-enabled KnowledgePanel®, a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population.
The margin of error for the general population is plus or minus 3.3 percent. The subgroup margins of error: for Evangelicals, plus or minus 6.4 percent and plus or minus 5.7 percent for Catholics.
'BELIEVERS'
At the beginning of the poll, all respondents were asked, "Would you say you believe in God or do not believe in God?" Eighty-five percent of the general answered they did believe in God, while 14 percent said they did not. When respondents were asked whether they felt "there are spiritual obligations to act in certain ways," or whether they did "not think in these terms," 67 percent said they felt there are spiritual obligations; 32 percent said they did not think in these terms.
Provided by
University of Maryland
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Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 2.3 / 5 (6)
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3.4 / 5 (5)
http://newsdesk.u...eID=2576
You're welcom PhysOrg.
The study seems surprisingly well put together. However, it covers a huge amount of (intellectual) territory, so I find it difficult to put too much credence in its claim that it is "representative" of anything more than the polling sample. One big divide though that was interesting is between religious people who believe the science on these issues vs. those that do not believe the science. Once they weeded out those who do not believe the science, the numbers change dramatically.
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (111)
Let them put their votes where their mouth supposedly is.
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 2.6 / 5 (8)
LMAO! Robovoter strikes again.
I finished typing the above quote, hit refresh, and it IMMEDIATELY had 5 "1" votes. Interestingly, the ONLY one that shows is FrankyboyHerbert. Who is, not coincidentally, showing up right behind my every post and claiming it as coincidence. I think I have a new admirer.
Truly roflmfao stuff.
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Understandable that you'd make this mistake, as it was widely -- though quite incorrectly -- reported as the case.
From Huntsman:
"Let me be very clear on this: there is no change," he told reporters after his speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition. "I put my faith and trust in science. So you have 99 of 100 climate scientists who have come out and talked about climate change in certain terms, what is responsible for it. I tend to say this is a discussion that should not be in the political lane but should be in the scientific lane."
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (112)
"The Paranoid Style in American Politics"
http://karws.gso....yle.html
Occam's razor says you're paranoid.
Care to actually contribute and address my point about Huntsman? Or are you only interested in disinformation?
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3.3 / 5 (7)
lol psycho-troll. It's easy enough to prove your lie. Anyone can find my posts and see your post...one or two down. Not every time. Just about 98% of the time. Thanks for playing, but you fail! Try harder next time!
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (111)
You're free to vote me down. Have at it!
But here's your chance to redeem yourself and actually address a point and not some paranoid delusion of yours!
Care to actually contribute and address my point about Huntsman? Or are you only interested in disinformation?
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 1.3 / 5 (37)
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 1.3 / 5 (38)
Also NG, FH is a nice guy, he would never PM nasty messages, never! You just don't understand him, do as I do and wish him and his family a very merry Christmas.
NG and to everyone else on this board, Merry Christmas!
Dec 07, 2011
Rank: 1.2 / 5 (36)
Merry Christmas to you too!
About the research - like you I saw it as having a rather obvious political bent.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1 / 5 (4)
I guess there are people who'll put their trust in anything they imagine is more powerful than they, be it Mighty Zoosh, Yahweh or Government.
"The Polar Bears will be fine." - Freeman Dyson
sadly, Dobie Gray has passed away.
http://www.youtub...nOASOWIU
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (111)
You are intellectually dishonest. It has been pointed out to you many times this is a fallacious appeal to authority.
Stop it.
Unlike the other two, the latter actually exists.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 4 / 5 (4)
STEWARDSHIP: Most agree they have an obligation to act as good stewards of the environment...
...unless we need to nuke countries we don't like.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: 2 out of 3 believers agree that there is an obligation to care for God's creation by supporting environmental laws...
...as long as I personally don't have to vote for it, or publicly take a pro-environmental stance among people I know.
BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS: Majorities of believers approve of the United States entering into binding international agreements aimed at protecting the environment...
...and if it don't work, then I can blame them dang foreigners. Besides, they're the ones doing all the polluting.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.9 / 5 (7)
You only have 3 votes total, and I just voted you a 1 because you were too stupid to figure out how to read the vote summary and confused the total possible score (5) with the total votes cast(0).
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 2.6 / 5 (5)
That's Alzheimer talking there Tard Boy.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 2.5 / 5 (2)
My response has been to speak the truth, and not respond hate for hate, threat for threat. FH, VD and many others who have become progressives have done so because they don't know how to handle anger or hate or have been deeply hurt by someone.
So lets respond in truth and love. We can teach Progressives such as VD and FH about truth by always speaking the truth no matter how much they try to shout it down. We teach progressives about love by showing them respect as a person, even when they say nasty things.
So to you MarkyMark, to VD, FH, and to everyone else on this board, no matter how progressive or how conservative, no matter how hateful or loving, I truly wish all of you MERRY CHRISTMAS and may the truth of CHRISTMAS enrich your heart.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 2.5 / 5 (2)
So, I challenge everyone on this board progressive or conservative to do so. Maybe if everyone who truly wants and wishes the world to have less hate, if they wish (and truly mean/wants!) everyone they meet to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, just perhaps, there might be more love.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
Holy smokes. Only 4 out of 10? What's with these people?
Since when does 'believer' equate to 'creationist'?
Please keep the religionist crap out of this thread. I was much happier before that came up. Thanks.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
You obviously don't understand that the voting feature is not supposed to be used to express your disagreement with someone's opinion... you can do that in words by replying to them... the voting feature is SUPPOSED to be used to rate the QUALITY of someone's contribution to the discussion... not whether you agree with them or not.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1.1 / 5 (34)
...and even less of an industrial base and much higher unemployment...
We can't impose super strict environmental regulations unless all other countries do the same, or they will easily out-compete for heavy industry and manufacturing.
All Americans like it when their jobs are sent overseas right?
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Hold on a sec...
...Isn't the US capitalist and a proponent of free markets? And isn't competition what capitalism is all about?
Now I'm confused.
Stringent environmental laws can be seen as a chance. It forces people to develop new and better (more efficient) products. It forces people to deploy better machines. This is a huge market in itself. And if done properly can be turned into a vast amount of exports since all the world will have to use more environmental products/manufacturing means in the future.
Sticking to 'no regulations' just means "same old, same old".
Everybody knows what happens to "same old" in a free market.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (110)
05.27.2011 13:12
LOL I forgot about this one. As early as June paranoids were trying to morph me and all their other least favorite posters into some amorphous enemy.
06.16.2011 11:47
In response to accusing him of leaving a topic after his bigotry was clearly pointed out. (Original topic: http://www.physor...ogy.html )
06.20.2011 17:24
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (110)
Here's more PMs.
07.18.2011 18:28
09.12.2011 14:09
I got this one out of the blue recently, which goaded me into calling him a few choice words. I'm not sorry.
12.05.2011 10:55
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (110)
12.05.2011 19:52
Very Christian of you freethinking, trying to get someone to reveal personal things so you can release them in public all the while hiding behind "Merry Christmas" and christian 'altrusim'.
You are despicable.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.5 / 5 (2)
Are you asking me what the ideology is or what the reality is?
Sure, if the ENTIRE WORLD was TRULY capitalist (which even the US isn't) then a worldwide free market would be ideal...
This is not the case in reality. In reality the global population is split under multiple rulers with multiple different social and economic policies that do not play well together.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1.5 / 5 (13)
I'm sorry this is nonsense... the average Joe Blow at Walmart is not going to pick widget B over widget A because it killed 2 fewer trees to produce if it costs 50 cents more.
People will TELL you that they care about the environment every single time you ask, what they do at the store however is a completely different story. All else equal, the cheaper product that is worse for the environment will ALWAYS out-sell the alternative.
I'm not saying what I think about this, I am just stating the reality of the situation.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1.4 / 5 (14)
Just to put a few things in context, I have not called you a homosexual, however you constantly calling me a derogatory name for one made me wonder if you were a self loathing one? Also your hateful rants and PMs made me wonder if someone did hurt you?
Also, you can release any of my PMs, but please release them in context. Obviously many people have received PMs from you, so Im not worried about my reputation.
Anyway, Merry Christmas!
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (109)
http://www.physor...ogy.html
You don't deserve a Merry Christmas.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1.2 / 5 (34)
At one point you said that if everyone followed Christian values AIDS wouldn't exist... what is wrong with you?
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Well, you said it yourself: He's christian.
I'm saying that protectionism isn't going to work (the fallout from the environmental disaster will cost us much more than conforming to stricter regulations). There are countries that have strict emission laws. E.g. the stricter emission laws for automobiles haven't put one carmaker out of business. Neither have the stricter laws for refineries. Neither have the stricter laws for coal power plants that have been passed over the years and have necessitated installation of filters.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 1.3 / 5 (3)
BTW all over VD diseases would also disappear.
What is wrong with you that you don't want to rid the world of horrible diseases?
Merry Christmas.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 4 / 5 (4)
If everyone stopped having sex altogether, AIDS wouldn't be the only disease to disappear.
Dec 08, 2011
Rank: 4 / 5 (2)
You're a fool.
How do you think the FIRST person contracted HIV? Not from a sexual partner, because then they wouldn't be the first... so tell me, how did the FIRST person to have the HIV virus contract it?
Idiot...
Dec 11, 2011
Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
Dec 11, 2011
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Oh, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! The season is not restricted to Christians alone, so stop pretending that christianity is the only thing that matters.
Dec 14, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
The majority of Christians who attend church less than once a week are probably not THAT serious about it. Only ~38-40% of Americans attend church weekly. Those who have never gone in their lives but still identify as Christian will answer "Yes" and be counted as believers. What are they measuring here? Certainly not the effects of religious participation or seriosity regarding religion (yes, that's a word now).
Dec 14, 2011
Rank: 2 / 5 (2)