Green as the gospel: The power of stewardship messages to improve climate change attitudes.

Three studies (N = 1,389) investigate how attitudes toward the environment and climate change may be informed by stewardship beliefs (care for Earth as a sacred religious duty) or dominion (God-given dominance over nature). Pro-environmental measures were positively associated with belief negatively belief, moderated religiosity (Study 1). When participants read passages from Bible supporting stewardship, they expressed greater concern change, compared those who messages control passage 2). Reading encyclical Pope Francis increased participants’ in moralization of but this was favorable Pope. These findings suggest that environmental can shaped views authorities present an optimistic view used to improve among believers.