This member profile of the Southern Baptist Convention was created using data from the 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, collected by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Compare Southern Baptist Convention to members in other denominations:
Demographics |
| Percent female |
50.6% |
| Percent that are currently married |
60.2% |
| Percent that have a B.A., B.S. or other 4-year college degree |
20.7% |
| Percent with a family income of less than $40,000 a year |
36.6% |
| Percent that are white |
86% |
| Percent of Hispanic origin or descent |
2.4% |
| Percent that live in a rural area |
30.7% |
| Percent that live in the South |
76.3% |
| Percent with one or more parents born outside the U.S. |
2.1% |
| Percent born in another country |
2.1% |
Moral Attitudes |
| Percent who think that abortion should be illegal in all cases. |
21.8% |
| Percent that think that "homosexuality" is a way of life that should be discouraged by society. |
68.4% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that there are "clear and absolute standards for what is right and wrong" |
85.2% |
| Percent who think the government should do more to protect morality in society. |
48.6% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that their values are threatened by Hollywood and the entertainment industry |
52.6% |
Other Beliefs and Attitudes |
| Percent satisfied with personal life. |
86.4% |
| Percent that "mostly agree" or "completely agree" that "evolution is the best explanation for the origins of human life on earth" |
24.1% |
Political Attitudes |
| Percent that think that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters |
31.8% |
| Percent that think the best way to ensure peace is through military strength. |
42.4% |
| Percent that think the government should do more to help needy Americans. |
58.4% |
| Percent that think that stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs. |
35.4% |
| Percent that prefer a smaller government providing fewer services. |
48.2% |
| Percent registered to vote |
83.9% |
| Percent Republican |
40.6% |
| Percent that describe themselves as conservative or very conservative |
54.8% |
| Percent that voted for Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election |
21.8% |
Religious Beliefs |
| Percent that view God as an impersonal force |
13.5% |
| Percent that believe in God or a universal spirit |
99% |
| Percent that believe in Hell |
86.1% |
| Percent that believe in Heaven |
87.8% |
| Percent that agree: Angels and demons are active in the world |
88% |
| Percent that believe in reincarnation |
-- |
| Percent that believe in life after death |
85.9% |
| Percent that say religion is a very important part of their life |
79.5% |
| Percent that believe that their church or denomination should preserve its traditional beliefs and practices |
62.1% |
| Percent that mostly or complete agree: Religion causes more problems in society than it solves |
16.7% |
| Percent that think there is a natural conflict between "being a devout religious person and living in a modern society" |
51% |
| Percent that mostly or completely agree: Miracles still occur today as in ancient times |
90.8% |
| Percent that believe that many religions can lead to eternal life |
60.9% |
Religious Experiences |
| Percent that speak or pray in tongues |
11.7% |
| Percent that have experienced or witnessed a divine healing of an illness or injury? |
46.8% |
| Percent that feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week |
67.4% |
Religious Practices |
| Percent that attend religious services at least once a week |
56.6% |
| Percent that pray at a shrine or religious symbol in their home |
-- |
| Percent that attend services at a church with 2000 or more members. |
7.9% |
| Percent that pray at least once a day |
77.5% |
| Percent that meditate at least once a week |
44.6% |
| Percent that pray or read the Scripture with their children |
79.8% |
| Percent that read scripture outside of religious services at last once a week |
58.3% |
| Percent that participate in a choir or other musical program at their place of worship |
36.9% |
| Percent that do community volunteer work through their place of worship |
72.8% |
| Percent that share their faith with "non-believers or people from other religious backgrounds" at least once a week |
32.7% |
| Percent that send their children to Sunday School or another religious education program |
83.6% |
| Percent that home school or send their children to a religious school |
15.4% |
