Believers

Religion cultivates agape altruism--good deeds that are unlikely to be reciprocated on Earth or have any beneficial effect on one’s descendants or local community. The Wordwatch Institute makes a compelling case for religion supporting the quest for sustainability. An estimated 80% of humankind subscribe to some religion. Most religions have an anti-materialist message. They also have financial and political power—a lot more than scientists. Rick Warren recently said “As Christians, our faith in Jesus Christ compels us to love our neighbors and to be stewards of God's creation.” He leads a group of more than one hundred like-minded evangelist ministers. Hey! Isn’t Bush an evangelist?

In The Creation, E.O. Wilson argues that science and religion should make a truce and combine forces to get humankind past the coming disasters. This presents an interesting challenge to both sides. Will they be willing to ignore centuries-old conflicts to cooperate in solving a pressing problem? It’s a little like asking the Shiites and Sunnis to stop fighting long enough to get the electricity working in Baghdad.