Whither Religion?

Evan Berry, in his book Devoted to Nature, asks us to consider the role of religion in the development of environmentalism in American history. Choose a theme or topic from Chapter 1 ("Recreation and Soteriology") or Chapter 2 ("Congregating around Nature"), describe that topic or theme in the context of the book, and then apply it to a current issue or debate that demonstrates the persistent connection between religion and environmentalism in 21st-century America. Feel free to provide links to other online content, but use your best judgement when choosing your sources.