And why can't we convince them that God is going to bring down judgment on the United States for insufficient recycling (aka bad stewardship)?

Problem solved.

line.

...that perhaps God has already begun to punish America, and that's why Louie is in a position that allows his remarks to be brought to public attention?

It could be. I know I'm hoping for mercy...

and louie, don't forget that separation of church & state thingy

Instead, he is afraid? Why doesn't he want to go to heaven and be with Jesus?

from one of my very favorite authors.

To be sure, the Bible contains the direct words of God. How do we know? The Moral Majority says so. How do they know? They say they know and to doubt it makes you an agent of the Devil or, worse, a Lbr-l Dm-cr-t. And what does the Bible textbook say? Well, among other things it says the earth was created in 4004 BC (Not actually, but a Moral Majority type figured that out three and a half centuries ago, and his word is also accepted as inspired.) The sun was created three days later. The first male was molded out of dirt, and the first female was molded, some time later, out of his rib. As far as the end of the universe is concerned, the Book of Revelation (6:13-14) says: "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." … Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly.

Isaac Asimov, "The Blind Who Would Lead", essay in The Roving Mind (1983)