Is the influence of religion increasing or decreasing in the U.S.?

• Introduction
• Patterns

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?

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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

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

	Republican	Democrat	No pref	Oth party	DK/Refused	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	38.9% 254	39.4% 234	32.2% 39	25.0% 1	37.0% 20	198	38.4% 548
Losing	52.2% 341	50.7% 301	44.6% 54	75.0% 3	37.0% 20	315	50.4% 719
Staying the same	3.7% 24	2.9% 17	5.0% 6	0.0% 0	1.9% 1	23	3.4% 48
No opinion	5.2% 34	7.1% 42	18.2% 22	0.0% 0	24.1% 13	40	7.8% 111
TOTAL	100% 653	100% 594	100% 121	100% 4	100% 54	576	1426

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

	<20,000	20-30,000	30-50,000	50-75,000	75,000+	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	38.1% 119	38.3% 90	36.5% 161	42.6% 135	37.5% 148	93	38.4% 653
Losing	49.0% 153	50.6% 119	54.6% 241	50.5% 160	51.1% 202	159	51.5% 875
Staying the same	4.8% 15	3.8% 9	2.7% 12	2.5% 8	4.6% 18	9	3.6% 62
No opinion	8.0% 25	7.2% 17	6.1% 27	4.4% 14	6.8% 27	41	6.5% 110
TOTAL	100% 312	100% 235	100% 441	100% 317	100% 395	302	1700

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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

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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	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	37.9% 399	41.2% 114	42.9% 21	35.4% 63	33.4% 145	4	37.3% 742
Losing	51.8% 545	49.5% 137	44.9% 22	46.6% 83	55.1% 239	8	51.6% 1026
Staying the same	3.3% 35	4.0% 11	4.1% 2	3.9% 7	3.7% 16	0	3.6% 71
No opinion	6.9% 73	5.4% 15	8.2% 4	14.0% 25	7.8% 34	0	7.6% 151
TOTAL	100% 1052	100% 277	100% 49	100% 178	100% 434	12	1990

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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+	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	36.8% 88	33.3% 106	40.8% 167	38.3% 145	36.9% 232	8	37.4% 738
Losing	54.4% 130	56.0% 178	49.9% 204	52.5% 199	49.0% 308	15	51.6% 1019
Staying the same	2.1% 5	2.5% 8	5.1% 21	2.6% 10	3.7% 23	4	3.4% 67
No opinion	6.7% 16	8.2% 26	4.2% 17	6.6% 25	10.5% 66	1	7.6% 150
TOTAL	100% 239	100% 318	100% 409	100% 379	100% 629	28	1974

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

	Christian	Jewish	Athst/Agno	Other	No pref	Missing	TOTAL
Increasing	39.2% 634	32.3% 10	32.3% 20	31.4% 22	26.1% 47	13	37.4% 733
Losing	51.1% 826	54.8% 17	53.2% 33	50.0% 35	58.3% 105	18	51.8% 1016
Staying the same	3.4% 55	0.0% 0	3.2% 2	5.7% 4	4.4% 8	2	3.5% 69
No opinion	6.3% 102	12.9% 4	11.3% 7	12.9% 9	11.1% 20	9	7.2% 142
TOTAL	100% 1617	100% 31	100% 62	100% 70	100% 180	42	1960

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Notes

Religion and Public Life Survey, 2002: 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.