Getting the Goods

John P. Marcum, Research Services Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, Kentucky

I recall them first appearing in the mid-1970s, as oil shortages multiplied. I'm referring to those articles in the popular media that describe how to lead a simpler life. Have you read any? They seem almost apologetic for suggesting that people make such "sacrifices" as occasionally turning off their TV for an evening or leaving the car at home and walking to the grocery store. It's a far cry from Jesus's advice to the inquisitive rich man, "Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor . . . ."

The rich man's response wasn't exactly affirmative. As Luke describes it, he "became sad." Would Jesus receive a similar response today from the typical Presbyterian? Let's attempt an answer by looking at what Presbyterians told us last year when we asked them about consumerism and materialism in a larger study of opinions on nature and the environment. Consider:

• 28 percent of members and elders rate "consumer demand for more material goods in the U.S. and other wealthy nations" as one of the most serious environmental problems we face. Almost as many, 23 percent and 24 percent, respectively, rate it as one of the least serious.

• 7 percent of members and elders strongly agree with the statement, "To improve the standard of living for people everywhere, those of us in wealthy countries need to simplify our lifestyles." Another 36 percent and 39 percent, respectively agree with this statement. More than a fourth of members (30 percent) and elders (28 percent) strongly disagree or disagree with the need to simplify lifestyles; another quarter (28 percent and 25 percent, respectively) neither agree nor disagree.

• 11 percent of members and 13 percent of elders report themselves very willing "to accept cuts" in their standard of living "to protect the environment." Another 42 percent and 43 percent, respectively, are fairly willing, while 22 percent and 23 percent are either not very willing or not at all willing. The remaining 25 percent and 22 percent are neither willing nor unwilling.

Presbyterians More Willing than the U.S. in General to Accept Lifestyle Changes for the Sake of the Environment

These results are decidedly mixed. While a majority of Presbyterians express some willingness to simplify their lifestyles, most of them are fairly willing rather than very willing. Only a little over a quarter perceive that consumerism is one of the most serious environmental problems, hardly more that the proportion who view it as one of the least serious. Overall, there's little here that would lead us to predict that Presbyterians will soon lead--or even that many will join--a movement to cut down on material consumption and live simpler lives.

Surprised? Probably not, I'd guess. These results seem consistent with observations most of us make every day, and with scientific thinking that links acquisition to individual survival (and "breeding success") over humanity's evolutionary history. Acquiring things, in short, may be "hard-wired" into our genes.

If you find this possibility troubling--and it likely will be to many of you, especially pastors and other clergy, who expressed much more concern about consumerism than laity in response to the Panel survey--don't get too discouraged. Human beings have the ability to go beyond biological predispositions. It may not be easy to convince people that it is in their self interest to consume less, but, as the account of Jesus and the rich man reminds us, on this subject even the best teachers don't always meet with success.

Email the author: Jack Marcum