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Easter Season Finds a Religious Nation

More than six in 10 Americans think religion "can answer all or most of today's problems"

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON NJ - As Americans celebrate the Easter and Passover season this year, a review of Gallup polling reveals a quite religious nation - one in which over six in ten adults claim to be a member of a church or synagogue, and in which over half say that religion is a very important part of their lives. A substantial majority says that religion can answer all or most of life's questions, although well under half of Americans attend church regularly.

Church Attendance
Gallup polls over the past decade suggest that about four in 10 Americans say they attended a religious service in any given week, and about three in 10 say they regularly attend services every week. These numbers have varied over the years, ranging from a low of 35% who indicated attendance during the previous week in August 1997, to a high of 49% measured in 1955 and 1958. Still, there has been no persistent upward or downward trend over the past six decades. In 1939, for example, 41% of Americans said they attended in the past week, exactly the same proportion that reported attendance in the most recent Gallup poll, February 19-21.

Not surprisingly, reported attendance is highly related to age, with people 65 and older about twice as likely to attend church as are those under 30 (57% vs. 30%). Women are more likely to attend in any given week than are men (46% vs. 36%), and Southerners (48%) are more likely than Easterners (29%) to do so. In addition, people who live in rural areas report higher levels of attendance (47%) than people who live in urban areas do (33%). There are no significant differences in reported attendance, however, among people with different levels of education.

Organized Religion Shows Resilience but Questions of Depth Persist
The fact that church attendance has remained fairly stable over time points to the perhaps surprising resilience of organized religion at a time when modern societal trends could be expected to undermine attachment to formal religion.

The latest Gallup Index of Leading Religious Indicators remains at a relatively high level, although far below the figures recorded in the 1950s and early 1960s. In terms of certain key components on this eight-item scale -- belief in God, the importance of religion in lives, and church membership and attendance -- Gallup has found little change over recent decades.

Despite the fact that Gallup religious indicators reveal a continuing high level of attachment to religion, the same question persists: Although religion is broad, is it deep? Evidence suggests that in both recent surveys and those taken a half-century earlier, the percentage of people with a deep, transforming, lived-out faith is far smaller than the overall percentage of religious belief would seem to indicate.

Church Membership
According to the latest numbers, about two of every three Americans (65%) claim to be a member of a church or synagogue. This is down slightly from the past few years, when the percentages of Americans who said they were members of a church or synagogue were closer to 70%. The highest figure Gallup recorded on this measure was 76% membership, back in 1947. Today, women are more likely than men to belong to a church or a synagogue (69% compared to 60%). Older Americans are much more likely to be members of churches or synagogues, as 74% of those aged 50 and older are members, but only 53% of those between the ages of 18 and 29. Married people are also more likely to be members, by a 70% to 60% margin over those who are not married. Political ideology is strongly related to church membership, as 76% of conservatives belong to a church or synagogue but only 52% of liberals do.

Influence of Religion and the Bible in America Today
Gallup's latest numbers show 55% of Americans saying that religion is a "very important" part of their life. The current figure of 55% represents the low end of the range on this question, which for several decades has seldom been lower than the mid- to high-50s. The highest number Gallup has ever recorded came in 1965, when 70% of Americans said religion was a very important part of their life. Women, conservatives, and older Americans are especially likely to say religion is very important to them -- not surprising, since each of those groups shows high proportions of church or synagogue membership.

More than six in 10 Americans (63%) think religion "can answer all or most of today's problems," while 22% think it is "largely old-fashioned and out of date." The current percentage of Americans who believe religion can answer today's problems is typical of what Gallup has observed over the years, with the exception of the initial reading of 82% in March 1957.

Roughly four out of 10 Americans (39%) think religion is increasing its influence in society, while 55% think it is losing its influence. Throughout the past decade, a majority or near majority of Americans have viewed religion as losing its influence. However, the percentage who think religion is increasing its influence on American life today has increased rather substantially from the early 1990s, when less than three in 10 Americans thought religion was increasing its influence on society.

Americans on the whole believe that the Bible is heavily influenced by God. While only 27% think it is the literal word of God, 49% think it is the inspired word of God, but that not everything in it should be taken literally. Only 20% think it is an ancient book of fables. However, the percentage who think it is a book of fables is the highest Gallup has ever recorded, while the percentage who think it is the literal word of God is the lowest ever recorded.

Survey Methods

The results reported here are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,016 adults, 18 years and older, conducted February 19-21, 2001. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

How important would you say religion is in your own life -- very important, fairly important, or not very important?

Very
important

Fairly
important

Not very
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

55

30

15

*

2000 Aug 24-27

57

31

12

*

2000 Mar 17-19

61

27

12

*

1999 Dec 9-12

61

27

11

1

1999 Apr 30-May 2

58

30

11

1

1998 Jun 22-23

62

25

12

1

1998 Jan 16-18

59

29

12

*

1997 Nov 6-9

58

28

13

1

1997 Aug 12-13

62

27

11

*

1997 Mar 24-26

61

27

11

1

1996 Nov 21-24

58

27

14

1

1996 Sep 3-5

55

31

13

1

1996 Jun 27-30

57

26

17

*

1995 Dec 15-18

60

28

12

*

1995 Aug 28-30

58

30

11

1

1995 May 11-14

56

30

13

1

1994 Dec 16-18

60

28

11

1

1994 Jun 25-28

55

30

14

1

1994 Mar 28-30

59

29

11

1

1993 Mar 12-14

59

32

9

*

1992 Nov 20-22

59

28

12

1

1992 Apr

58

29

13

*

1991 Nov

55

29

15

1

1991 May

57

30

13

*

1991 Mar

55

29

16

*

1991 Feb 7-10

60

29

11

*

1991 Jan 30-Feb 2

63

28

9

1

1990 Jun

58

29

13

*

1989

55

30

14

1

1988

54

31

14

1

1987

53

32

14

1

1986

55

30

14

1

1985

55

31

13

1

1984

56

30

13

1

1983

56

30

13

1

1982

56

30

13

1

1981

56

29

14

1

1980

55

31

13

1

1978

52

32

14

2

1965

70

22

7

1

1952^

75

20

5

*

^ Ben Gaffin and Associates

At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence?

Increasing influence

Losing
influence


SAME (vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

39

55

3

3

2000 Aug 24-27

35

58

4

3

2000 Mar 17-19

37

58

--

5

1999 Dec 9-12

40

54

3

3

1999 Apr 30-May 2

32

62

3

3

1998 Jun 22-23

37

56

4

3

1998 Jan 16-18

48

48

1

3

1997 Aug 12-13

36

60

1

3

1997 Mar 24-26

36

57

3

4

1995 Dec 15-18

38

57

2

3

1995 May 11-14

36

58

3

3

1994 Jun 25-28

28

67

2

3

1994 Mar 28-30

27

69

2

2

1992 Nov

27

63

4

5

1991 Nov

27

66

3

4

1991 May

34

57

--

9

1990 Jun

33

48

8

11

1989 Apr

33

49

9

9

1988 Mar

36

49

6

9

1986 Sep

48

38

6

7

1985 Nov

45

41

--

14

1985 Mar

48

39

10

3

1984 Jun

42

39

14

6

1983 Oct

44

42

9

5

1983 Jan

44

42

9

5

1982 Dec

41

45

9

5

1981 Dec

38

47

10

6

1980 Apr

35

46

11

8

1978 Dec

37

48

10

5

1977 Dec

37

45

10

9

1976 Dec

44

45

8

3

1975 Dec

39

51

7

3

1974 Dec

31

56

8

5

1970 Jan

14

75

7

4

1969 May

14

71

11

5

1968 Apr

19

67

8

7

1967 Mar

23

57

14

6

1965 Feb

33

45

13

8

1962 Feb

45

32

17

7

1957 Mar

69

14

10

6

Do you happen to be a member of a church or synagogue?

Yes

No

Yes

No

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

65

35

1992 Nov

70

30

1992 Apr

71

29

2000 Aug 24-27

68

32

1991 Nov

69

31

2000 Mar 17-19

68

32

1991 May

69

31

1999 Dec 9-12

68

32

1991 Mar

66

34

1999 Apr 30-May 2

71

29

1991 Feb

67

33

1998 Jun 22-23

70

30

1990 Jun

69

31

1998 Jan 16-18

67

33

1989

68

32

1997 Aug 12-13

68

32

1988

65

35

1997 Mar 24-26

67

33

1987

69

31

1996 Nov 21-24

66

34

1985

71

29

1996 Sep 3-5

65

35

1983

69

31

1996 Jun 27-30

64

36

1982

67

33

1995 Dec 15-18

71

29

1979

68

32

1995 Sep 22-24

66

34

1976

71

29

1995 Aug 28-30

69

31

1965

73

27

1995 May 11-14

69

31

1952

73

27

1994 Dec 16-18

67

33

1947

76

24

1994 Jun 25-28

68

32

1944

75

25

1994 Mar 28-30

70

30

1940

72

28

1993 Jun

65

35

1937

73

27

1993 Mar

71

29

Did you, yourself, happen to attend church or synagogue in the last seven days, or not?

Yes

No

Yes

No

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

41

59

1991 Nov

41

59

1991 May

43

57

2000 Aug 24-27

43

57

1991 Mar

43

57

2000 Mar 17-19

44

56

1990 Jun

40

60

1999 Dec 9-12

45

55

1989

43

57

1999 Apr 30-May 2

40

60

1988

42

58

1998 Jun 22-23

40

60

1987

40

60

1998 Jan 16-18

39

61

1985

42

58

1997 Aug 12-13

35

65

1983

40

60

1997 Mar 24-26

43

57

1982

41

59

1996 Nov 21-24

39

61

1981

41

59

1996 Sep 3-5

37

63

1979

40

60

1996 Jun 27-30

38

62

1972

40

60

1995 Dec 15-18

44

56

1969

42

58

1995 Aug 28-30

42

57

1967

43

57

1995 May 11-14

41

59

1962

46

54

1994 Dec 16-18

38

62

1958

49

51

1994 Jun 25-28

40

60

1957

47

53

1994 Mar 28-30 ^

48

52

1955

49

51

1993 Jun

38

62

1954

46

54

1993 Mar

41

59

1950

39

61

1992 Nov

40

60

1940

37

63

1992 Apr

41

59

1939

41

59

How often do you attend church or synagogue -- at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month,

seldom, or never?

Once
a week

Almost every week

About once
a
month


Seldom


Never

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

30

12

15

29

13

1

2000 Aug 24-27

35

11

15

27

11

1

2000 Mar 17-19

36

11

13

30

10

*

1999 Jan 7-10

32

12

13

29

13

1

1999 Dec 9-12

36

12

16

28

8

*

1999 Sep 23-26

30

9

13

28

19

1

1999 Sep 10-14

31

13

14

27

14

1

1999 Apr 30-May 2

30

14

18

28

9

1

1998 Jun 22-23

32

13

19

26

9

1

1998 Jan 16-18

32

12

15

30

10

1

1997 Aug 12-13

29

12

17

29

12

1

1997 Mar 24-26

30

13

17

30

9

1

1996 Nov 21-24

28

11

17

33

10

1

1996 Sep 3-5

29

12

16

32

10

1

1996 Jun 27-30

27

13

13

34

13

*

1996 Jan 12-15

33

12

15

28

11

1

1995 Dec 15-18

34

11

16

28

10

1

1995 Sep 22-24

31

13

14

31

11

*

1995 Aug 28-30

30

13

17

31

8

1

1995 May 11-14

30

12

17

31

10

*

1994 Dec 16-18

30

12

16

31

11

*

1994 Jun 25-28

32

14

17

27

10

*

1994 Mar 28-30

35

15

16

25

9

*

1992 Sep 11-15

34

10

15

26

14

1

1992 Jan 3-6

31

9

15

29

16

1

What is your religious preference -- Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish or an Orthodox religion such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox Church?


Prot-
estant


Cath-
olic


Jew-
ish


Ortho-
dox


Mor-
mon

Other
specific


None

Un-
desig-
nated

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

56

25

2

*

1

3

8

5

2000 (^)

56

27

2

1

1

5

6

2

1999 (^)

55

28

2

1

2

2

9

1

1998 (^)

59

27

2

2

1

4

6

2

1997 (^)

58

26

2

1

1

4

6

2

1996 (^)

58

25

3

1

1

3

7

2

1995 (^)

56

27

2

1

1

5

6

2

1994 (^)

60

24

2

1

1

4

6

2

1993 (^)

57

26

1

2

1

5

6

2

1992 (^)

56

26

2

1

1

5

7

2

1991

56

25

2

NA

NA

6

11

NA

1990

56

25

2

NA

NA

6

11

NA

1988/89

56

28

2

NA

NA

4

10

NA

1987

57

28

2

NA

NA

4

9

NA

1986

58

27

2

NA

NA

4

9

NA

1985

57

28

2

NA

NA

4

9

NA

1984

57

28

2

NA

NA

4

9

NA

1983

56

28

2

NA

NA

4

9

NA

1982

57

29

2

NA

NA

4

8

NA

1981

59

28

2

NA

NA

4

7

NA

1980

61

28

2

NA

NA

2

7

NA

1979

59

29

2

NA

NA

2

8

NA

1977/78

60

29

2

NA

NA

1

8

NA

1976

61

27

2

NA

NA

4

6

NA

1975

62

27

2

NA

NA

4

6

NA

1974

60

27

2

NA

NA

5

6

NA

1972

63

26

2

NA

NA

4

5

NA

1967

67

25

3

NA

NA

3

2

NA

1962

70

23

3

NA

NA

2

2

NA

1957

66

26

3

NA

NA

1

3

NA

1952

67

25

4

NA

NA

1

2

NA

1947

69

20

5

NA

NA

1

6

NA

(^) Based on aggregate data

NA Not Asked

Question Wording:

1947-July 15, 1977: "What is your religious preference -- is it Protestant, Roman Catholic or Jewish?"

July 16, 1977-1996: "What is your religious preference -- is it Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, or an Orthodox religion such as the Greek or Russian Orthodox Church?"

What specific denomination is that?

BASED ON -- 560 -- PROTESTANTS. PERCENTAGE SHOWN IN TERMS OF NATIONAL ADULTS; MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 3 PCT. PTS., GIVEN PERCENTAGES NEAR 10%.


SB


OB


Me


Pr


Ep



Lu


Pe


CoC



Other


Non-denom.


No opinion

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb

6

10

9

3

2

6

3

1

3

6

2

2000 (^)

8

10

9

5

3

7

2

2

4

4

2

1999 (^)

9

9

8

4

2

6

3

2

4

6

1

1998 (^)

8

11

9

3

2

5

4

3

7

4

3

1997 (^)

8

11

9

4

2

6

3

3

6

3

2

1996 (^)

8

10

9

4

2

6

3

2

8

4

2

1995 (^)

10

9

9

4

2

6

3

2

9

3

1

1994 (^)

10

10

10

4

2

7

3

2

8

4

4

1993 (^)

10

10

10

3

2

6

2

1

10

3

4

1992 (^)

9

10

10

5

2

7

1

--

11

1

5

(^) Based on annual aggregate data

SB: So. Baptist
OB: Other Baptist
Me: Methodist
Pr: Presbyterian
Ep: Episcopal
Lu: Lutheran
Pe: Pentecostal
CoC: Church of Christ

Would you describe yourself as "born-again" or evangelical?

Yes

No

No opinion

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

45

49

6

2000 Aug 24-27

44

50

6

2000 Mar 17-19

46

47

7

1999 Dec 9-12

46

48

6

1999 Apr 30-May 2

45

47

8

1998 Jun 22-23

44

48

8

1998 Jan 16-18

49

43

8

1997 Aug 12-13

45

47

8

1997 Mar 24-26

43

51

6

1996 Nov 21-24

41

52

7

1996 Sep 3-5

42

52

6

1996 Jun 27-30

35

58

7

1995 Dec 15-18

43

52

5

1995 Aug 28-30

39

54

7

1995 May 11-14

39

53

8

1994 Jun 25-28

39

53

8

1994 Mar 28-30

45

48

7

1993 Mar

46

50

4

1992 Apr

42

52

6

1991 Nov

41

54

5

November 1991-March 1997 WORDING: Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian?

Do you believe that religion can answer all or most of today's problems, or that religion is largely old-fashioned and out of date?

Can answer

Old-fashioned

No opinion

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

63

22

15

2000 Aug 24-27

63

17

20

2000 Mar 17-19

66

21

13

1999 Dec 9-12

68

19

13

1999 Apr 30-May 2

66

21

11

1998 Jun 22-23

63

20

17

1998 Jan 16-18

67

20

13

1997 Aug 12-13

66

20

14

1997 Mar 24-26

61

20

19

1995 Dec 15-18

61

21

18

1994 Jun 25-28

59

23

18

1994 Mar 28-30

64

20

16

1991 May

59

23

19

1991 Mar

60

22

17

1991 Feb

61

25

14

1990 Jun

63

18

19

1989 Apr

61

18

22

1988 May

57

29

23

1986 Sep

58

23

20

1985 Nov

58

24

18

1985 Mar

61

22

17

1984 Jun

56

21

23

1982 Dec

60

22

18

1981 Jan

65

15

20

1974 Dec

62

20

18

1957 Mar

82

7

11

Which of the following statements comes closest to describing your views about the Bible -- [READ 1-3: 1) The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word, 2) the Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally, 3) The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man]?

Actual

Inspired

Fables

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2001 Feb 19-21

27

49

20

4

1998 Jun 22-23

33

47

17

3

1993 Jun

35

48

14

3

1991 Nov

32

49

16

3

1984 Nov

40

41

12

7

1984 Sep

37

46

12

5

1983 May

37

43

11

9

1981 Dec

37

42

11

--

1980 Aug

40

45

10

6

1978 Apr

38

45

13

6

1976 Aug

38

45

13

5

(vol.) Volunteered response
* Less than 0.5%


Gallup https://news.gallup.com/poll/1804/Easter-Season-Finds-Religious-Nation.aspx
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