Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors among Pagans

Abstract

Prior research has shown that Pagans emphasize a spiritual connection with nature, which is also linked to their pro-social environmental behaviors. It is this reverence for the natural world that is believed to drive their environmentalism. This project found ninety percent of the all Pagans surveyed engaged in some environmental behaviors. In looking at the inclusion of environmental issues in their spiritual practices, Wiccans were significantly less likely to state this compared to other contemporary Pagans and Druids. We found that reverence for the Earth and as well as survival of the planet and humanity were significant motivations for environmental behaviors. Additionally, the longer one had been a Pagan as well as the inclusion of environmental issues such as healing the earth and creating a cleaner environment, in their spiritual practices was also significantly correlated with engaging in environmental behaviors. Neither being Druid nor being Wiccan impacted the level of environmental behaviors. Overall this project found significant levels of engagement in environmental behavior with spiritual reverence for nature as a significant reason for these behaviors.