Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? (Demographic Patterns)

At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence? (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Age (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	18-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65 +	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	36.8% 88	33.3% 106	40.8% 167	38.3% 145	41.4% 111	33.5% 121	8	37.4% 738
Losing	54.4% 130	56.0% 178	49.9% 204	52.5% 199	46.6% 125	50.7% 183	15	51.6% 1019
Staying the same	2.1% 5	2.5% 8	5.1% 21	2.6% 10	2.6% 7	4.4% 16	4	3.4% 67
No opinion	6.7% 16	8.2% 26	4.2% 17	6.6% 25	9.3% 25	11.4% 41	1	7.6% 150
TOTAL	100% 239	100% 318	100% 409	100% 379	100% 268	100% 361	28	1974

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Gender (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	Male	Female	TOTAL
Increasing	33.8% 312	40.2% 434	37.3% 746
Losing	54.6% 503	49.2% 531	51.6% 1034
Staying the same	4.6% 42	2.7% 29	3.5% 71
No opinion	7.0% 65	8.0% 86	7.5% 151
TOTAL	100% 922	100% 1080	2002

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Political party (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	Republican	Democrat	Independent	No preference	Other party	Don't know/Refused	TOTAL
Increasing	38.9% 254	39.4% 234	34.4% 198	32.2% 39	25.0% 1	37.0% 20	37.3% 746
Losing	52.2% 341	50.7% 301	54.7% 315	44.6% 54	75.0% 3	37.0% 20	51.6% 1034
Staying the same	3.7% 24	2.9% 17	4.0% 23	5.0% 6	0.0% 0	1.9% 1	3.5% 71
No opinion	5.2% 34	7.1% 42	6.9% 40	18.2% 22	0.0% 0	24.1% 13	7.5% 151
TOTAL	100% 653	100% 594	100% 576	100% 121	100% 4	100% 54	2002

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Household income (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	Less than $20,000	$20,000 to under $40,000	$40,000 to under $75,000	$75,000 to under $100,000	$100,000 or more	Don't know/Refused	TOTAL
Increasing	38.1% 119	38.3% 181	39.3% 205	34.0% 68	41.0% 80	30.8% 93	37.3% 746
Losing	49.0% 153	52.1% 246	52.6% 274	56.5% 113	45.6% 89	52.6% 159	51.6% 1034
Staying the same	4.8% 15	3.2% 15	2.7% 14	5.5% 11	3.6% 7	3.0% 9	3.5% 71
No opinion	8.0% 25	6.4% 30	5.4% 28	4.0% 8	9.7% 19	13.6% 41	7.5% 151
TOTAL	100% 312	100% 472	100% 521	100% 200	100% 195	100% 302	2002

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Education (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	Less than high school	High school graduate	Some college	College +	Refused	TOTAL
Increasing	31.7% 58	34.5% 223	42.3% 222	37.7% 241	25.0% 2	37.3% 746
Losing	51.4% 94	53.3% 344	50.1% 263	51.4% 329	50.0% 4	51.6% 1034
Staying the same	3.8% 7	3.4% 22	3.0% 16	3.9% 25	12.5% 1	3.5% 71
No opinion	13.1% 24	8.8% 57	4.6% 24	7.0% 45	12.5% 1	7.5% 151
TOTAL	100% 183	100% 646	100% 525	100% 640	100% 8	2002

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Marital status (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	Married	Divorced	Separated	Widowed	Never been married	Don't know/Refused	TOTAL
Increasing	37.9% 399	41.2% 114	42.9% 21	35.4% 63	33.4% 145	33.3% 4	37.3% 746
Losing	51.8% 545	49.5% 137	44.9% 22	46.6% 83	55.1% 239	66.7% 8	51.6% 1034
Staying the same	3.3% 35	4.0% 11	4.1% 2	3.9% 7	3.7% 16	0.0% 0	3.5% 71
No opinion	6.9% 73	5.4% 15	8.2% 4	14.0% 25	7.8% 34	0.0% 0	7.5% 151
TOTAL	100% 1052	100% 277	100% 49	100% 178	100% 434	100% 12	2002

Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.? by Church attendance (Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002)

	More than once a week	Once a week	Once or twice a month	A few times a year	Seldom	Never	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	47.3% 147	42.1% 224	36.3% 117	34.4% 123	31.1% 91	24.0% 41	3	37.4% 743
Losing	41.2% 128	49.6% 264	52.2% 168	56.1% 201	56.3% 165	57.9% 99	9	51.6% 1025
Staying the same	3.2% 10	3.4% 18	4.0% 13	4.2% 15	3.4% 10	2.3% 4	1	3.5% 70
No opinion	8.4% 26	4.9% 26	7.5% 24	5.3% 19	9.2% 27	15.8% 27	2	7.5% 149
TOTAL	100% 311	100% 532	100% 322	100% 358	100% 293	100% 171	15	1987

Notes

This project investigated the public's attitudes on religion and public life. The survey was commissioned by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press (www.people-press.org) and produced two reports. The first report addressed America’s struggle with religion in the post 9-11 climate. The second report examined the public’s attitudes about genetic research.