"The Rhetorical Divide Between American Evangelicals On Climate Change

Abstract

This thesis uses rhetorical analysis to compare and contrast American Evangelical rhetoric from two mutually opposed Evangelical climate change interest groups. Specifically, the rhetorical analysis ranks and investigates four sources from each group, Creation Care and Climate Denialist Evangelicals, to explore the impact of rhetoric surrounding the quality and permanence of the planet. Rhetoric surrounding the quality and permanence of the planet within the Evangelical context stems from three biblical streams: Stewardship, Eco-Justice, and the Rapture. This thesis explores how these two divergent Evangelical groups mobilize these three themes as commonplaces of understanding to build rapport with their parishioners, listeners, and believers and mobilize them to act politically. Evangelicalism presents a fascinating window into how religion, specifically Christianity, plays a role in political mobilization surrounding climate change because of the divergences within the denomination itself. Due to the growing necessity for climate action, it is crucial to understand how rhetoric plays a role in how different groups comprehend and conceptualize the politics of climate change. Thus, more research on this subject is necessary to inform how interpretation of biblical themes and rhetoric cooperate to impact politics, specifically within the realm of climate change.