It's
an unusual question, admits the Rev. Dan Smith, who carried a sign with
the eye-catching challenge at an anti-SUV rally outside an auto dealership
in the spring.
"Many Christians have this phrase that is meaningful for them, 'What
would Jesus do?'" says Smith, an associate minister at Hancock United
Church of Christ in Lexington, Mass.
"It's something that I think is provocative. So my intention was to be
provocative. Hopefully it would make people think before making this
decision."
He says his parishioners have been receptive.
"I haven't heard any negative feedback," he notes.
Smith is part of a steadily growing convergence of religion and
environmentalism in America.
Moving Into the Religious Mainstream
Many spiritual leaders say that environmental issues are receiving more
attention than ever among their colleagues and congregations.
"I've been watching this for 10 or 12 years, and suddenly this year
it's as if this has come alive," says Bill McKibbon, a fellow at Harvard
Divinity School's Center for the Study of Values in Public Life, and
author of The End of Nature.
"I think a lot more people of faith are involved in this now," agrees
Kim Winchell, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and
the director of the Michigan Interfaith Coalition for Creation, an
environmental group.
Some involved in religious environmentalism are politically active,
writing letters to the president and protesting outside the Department of
Energy. Others are preaching the message of conservation to their
parishioners or installing solar panels on their churches.
In recent months, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has
passed a resolution calling on the United States to address climate
change, and a broad coalition of mainstream religious groups, including
the African Methodist Episcopal Church, American Baptist Churches USA and
others, issued a call for energy conservation and "climate justice."
"These are not just the usual suspects," insists the Rev. Fred Small of
First Church Unitarian in Littleton, Mass. He says the movement has spread
well beyond traditionally liberal religious denominations.
These views have been echoed by religious leaders representing faiths
ranging from Greek Orthodox Christianity, to fundamentalist Christian
groups, to Islam and Asian religions.
Still, most involved in religious environmentalism admit their message
hasn't been accepted by all.
For example, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life Director
Stefanie Zelkind says, "I think the more liberal denominations get it."
But she admits, "For other folks, it's pretty new."
�Caring for God�s Creation�
The movement has gained speed in recent months, in part due to widely
publicized reports on global warming, and concern over President Bush's
environmental policies.
But many leaders stress more fundamental ties between environmental
issues and traditional areas of religious concern.
"For us, environmentalism didn't start on Earth Day, it begins with
Genesis," says Paul Gorman, founder of the National Religious Partnership
for the Environment.
Gorman and others say the issue also reflects religious leaders'
traditional interest in issues of poverty and social justice, because
environmental problems often most directly affect the poor.
Activists also readily acknowledge that churches, mosques and
synagogues can reach people who have little contact with environmental
groups.
"We're reaching people they aren't," says Zelkind.
The recent California power crunch and record-high gas prices have also
helped bring energy and environment to the pulpit.
"When people's pocketbooks are hurt, they're more willing to pay
attention," says the Rev. Sally Bingham, an Episcopal priest and
environmental activist in San Francisco.
Rediscovering Long-Standing Connections
Environmental issues are, of course, not new to religion.
Pope John Paul II, for example, drew attention to the subject 11 years
ago in The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility.
Christianity, Judaism and other major faiths all talk about the
importance of caring for the earth in their sacred texts.
Attention to the environmental aspects of their creeds is on the rise,
however.
"I think we've all gotten clearer that our scriptures have a lot to say
on the issue," says the Rev. Rich Killmer, director of environmental
justice for the National Council of Churches. 
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