DeepSummary
Neil Pogue, an assistant professor of US history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, discusses his book "The Nature of the Religious Right" which examines how the religious right, initially supportive of environmental stewardship in the 1970s, shifted to become opponents of the environmental movement over the following decades. Pogue explains how this community originally saw caring for God's creation as a theological duty but by the 1990s, influenced by conservative think tanks and politicians, many rejected climate science and conservationism.
Pogue highlights the role of key figures like Jerry Falwell in ridiculing environmentalists and sowing doubts within the evangelical community about earth worship and threats to the economy. Despite some voices arguing for environmental action, social pressures and hierarchies led most to conform to the anti-environmentalist stance. The book explores this ideological rift and how alternate paths emphasizing traditional stewardship could have been taken.
While acknowledging the religious right is often seen as entrenched, Pogue demonstrates their changing positions on the environment over time. He suggests their shifting views point to the possibility that renewed dialogue could realign their stances in the future towards more environmentally-conscious solutions.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The religious right initially supported environmental stewardship based on theological principles in the 1970s.
- In the 1990s, they shifted to opposing environmental protections and denying climate science.
- Conservative think tanks and politicians influenced this shift by raising economic concerns and conspiracy theories.
- Social pressures and hierarchies within the religious right community reinforced conformity to the anti-environmentalist stance.
- Despite earlier traditions of stewardship, the religious right now rejects mainstream climate science and conservation efforts.
- Key leaders like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson played a pivotal role in this ideological transition.
- The book suggests the religious right's changing positions indicate the possibility for renewed dialogue towards environmental solutions.
- All communities, not just the religious right, make decisions negatively impacting the environment based on economic priorities.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Well, DDT, the pesticide, is something that really harmed bird populations. Perhaps we should use other, uh, means to control pests.“ by Neil Pogue
- “Robertson really just kind of goes along with the flow. You have someone like Jerry Falwell who really takes a strong stance against the environment early on.“ by Neil Pogue
- “It could have taken a very different path. They could have embraced the idea of stewardship that they had for over 20 years and say, let's actually just stay with this.“ by Richard Land
- “And the fact that their views changed over time suggests again that perhaps they can change again. Now, that may be overly hopeful, but it's at least kind of a starting point and a way that we can use history to beyond just something that happened in the past, to understand ourselves in the present day and make better decisions in the future.“ by Neil Pogue
- “At election times, we can sort of pass judgment on something like the religious right, but we also should think about what we're doing as well, and we're always not making the right decisions for sure.“ by Neil Pogue
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Episode Information
New Books in Environmental Studies
Marshall Poe
1/18/24