The Decline of Institutional Religion

The Decline of Institutional Religion Faith Angle Forum South Beach, Florida March 18, 2013 Luis Lugo Pew Research Center Washington, D.C. www.pewforum.org

I Long-Term Trends in Religious Affiliation 100 % 90 80 70 60 50 62 Protestant 51 40 30 20 10 0 26 25 Catholic 18 None 7 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2010 Source: General Social Surveys, 1972-2010. Other religious affiliations and those who did not give an answer are not shown. 1

Declining Share Are Protestant 60 % 50 53 48 40 White evangelical 30 20 White mainline 10 Black Protestant Other minority Protestant 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007-2012. 2

Growth of the Religiously Unaffiliated 25 % 20 20 15 15 Nothing in particular 10 5 Agnostic Atheist 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007-July 2012. 3

Trends in Religious Affiliation, 2007-2012 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 % % % % % % 07-12 Change Christian 78 77 77 76 75 73-5 Protestant 53 52 51 51 50 48-5 White evang. 21 19 20 19 18 19-2 White mainline 18 18 17 17 17 15-3 Black Protestant 8 8 9 9 9 8 -- Other minority Prot. 6 6 6 6 6 6 -- Catholic 23 22 23 23 23 22-1 Mormon 2 2 2 2 2 2 -- Orthodox 1 1 1 1 1 1 -- Other faith 4 5 5 5 5 6 +2 Unaffiliated 15.3 16.0 16.8 17.4 18.6 19.6 +4.3 Atheist 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.4 +0.8 Agnostic 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.6 3.0 3.3 +1.2 Nothing in particular 11.6 11.9 12.4 12.9 13.4 13.9 +2.3 Don t know 2 2 2 2 1 2 -- 100 100 100 100 100 100 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007- July 2012. In the change column, figures that are statistically significant are shown in bold. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 4

Growth in Religious Disaffiliation, by Demographic Groups 2007 2012 Change % who describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated among % % U.S. general public 15.3 19.6 +4.3 Men 18 23 +5 Women 13 17 +4 College grad+ 17 21 +4 Some college or less 15 19 +4 $75,000+ 16 21 +5 $30,000-$74,999 15 20 +5 <$30,000 17 20 +3 Northeast 15 21 +6 Midwest 15 19 +4 South 12 15 +3 West 21 26 +5 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007 and 2012. Changes that are statistically significant are shown in bold. 5

Growth in Religious Disaffiliation, by Race 2007 2012 Change % who describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated among % % U.S. general public 15.3 19.6 +4.3 White 15 20 +5 Black 13 15 +2 Hispanic 16 16 -- Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007 and 2012. Hispanic figures based only on surveys that included Spanish interviewing. Changes that are statistically significant are shown in bold. 6

Religious Switching: Recruitment % who were raised in Same religion Different religion Current religion Protestant 83 17 Catholic 89 11 Unaffiliated 25 74 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. 7

Religious Switching: Retention % who are currently Same religion Different religion Unaffiliated Childhood religion Protestant 80 6 13 Catholic 64 21 14 Unaffiliated 58 40 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. 8

II Importance of Religion Very Somewhat General public 58% 22% Unaffiliated 14 19 Atheist/Agnostic 2 14 Nothing in particular 19 22 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 9

Composition of the Unaffiliated Atheist 29% 12% Nothing in particular 71% Religious unaffiliated Agnostic 16% Religiously indifferent 42% Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 10

A Closer Look at the Nothing in Particulars All NiPs Religious Unaffiliated Religiously Indifferent Identify as a religious person 6 23 48 Believe in God, absolutely certain 22 39 64 Pray daily or more 12 27 49 0 20 40 60 80 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. 11

Believe in God or Universal Spirit? Yes, absolutely certain Yes, but less certain Net Affiliated 77% 20% 97 Unaffiliated 30 38 68 9 29 Atheist/Agnostic 38 Nothing in particular 39 42 81 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Source: Pew Research Center/Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 12

Frequency of Prayer Daily Weekly/monthly Affiliated 66% 22% Unaffiliated 21 20 Atheist/Agnostic 6 11 Nothing in particular 27 24 0 20 40 60 80 100 Source: Pew Research Center/Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 13

Frequency of Worship Attendance Weekly Monthly/ Yearly Seldom/ Never DK N % % % % U.S. general public 37 33 29 1 = 100 17,010 Affiliated 48 34 18 1 = 100 13,821 Christian 49 33 17 1 = 100 13,086 Protestant 49 33 17 1 = 100 7,316 White evangelical 63 27 10 1 = 100 3,473 White mainline 27 43 30 * = 100 3,035 Black Protestant 56 32 12 1 = 100 1,319 Catholic 41 41 17 1 = 100 3,692 White Catholic 41 41 18 * = 100 2,546 Hispanic Catholic 42 41 16 1 = 100 866 Unaffiliated 5 22 72 1 = 100 2,942 Atheist/Agnostic 3 13 83 1 = 100 908 Nothing in particular 6 26 67 1 = 100 2,034 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January-July 2012. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 14

Other Spiritual Beliefs % saying they believe in each of the following Spiritual energy located in physical things such as mountains, trees and crystals Unaffiliated Affiliated % % 30 25 Yoga, not just as exercise, but as a spiritual practice 28 23 Reincarnation, that people will be reborn again and again 25 24 Astrology, that the position of stars/planets can affect people s lives 25 25 Evil eye, that certain people can cast curses or spells that cause harm 12 17 Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, August 2009. Q291a-c,e,f. Other responses and those who did not give an answer are not shown. 15

Supernatural Experiences Unaffiliated % saying they have experienced each of the following: % Affiliated % Been in touch with someone who has already died 31 29 Religious or mystical experiences 30 53 Seen or been in the presence of a ghost 19 18 Consulted a fortuneteller or psychic 15 15 Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey, August 2009.Q292a-c;Q290. Other responses and those who did not give an answer are not shown. 16

Reflecting on the Meaning of Life How often, if at all, do you think about the meaning and purpose of life? Often Sometimes Rarely /never DK % % % % Affiliated 70 22 8 1 =100 Christian 70 21 8 1 = 100 Protestant 73 20 7 1 = 100 White evangelical 79 15 5 1 = 100 White mainline 62 29 9 * = 100 Black Protestant 82 14 3 1 = 100 Catholic 63 25 11 1 = 100 White Catholic 67 25 8 * = 100 Hispanic Catholic 57 23 17 3 = 100 Unaffiliated 53 29 17 1 = 100 Atheist/Agnostic 45 37 18 * = 100 Nothing in particular 56 26 17 1 = 100 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Q21a. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 17

Identity as a Spiritual or Religious Person Religious Spiritual only Neither Affiliated 75 15 8 Unaffiliated 18 37 42 Atheist/Agnostic 7 34 57 Nothing in particular 23 39 36 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Q50. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 18

Looking for a Religion? Nothing in particular % of nothing in particulars who are % Looking for religion that is right for them 10 Not doing this 88 Don t know 2 100 Source: Pew Research Center/Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. 19

III Religious Affiliation by Age Unaffiliated Affiliated Don't know/refused 18-29 32 67 30-49 21 77 50-64 15 84 65+ 9 90 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January-July 2012. 20

Life-Cycle Effect on Affiliation % unaffiliated with a religion, by generation Source: General Social Surveys. 21

Importance of Religion % saying religion is very important in their lives, by generation Source: Gallup Surveys. 22

Daily Prayer % saying they pray daily, by generation Source: General Social Surveys. 23

Attendance at Religious Services % saying they attend several times a week, every week or nearly every week, by generation Source: General Social Surveys. 24

Trends in Disaffiliation, by Religious Attendance 60% % of each attendance category that is unaffiliated 50 Seldom/never attend 49 40 38 30 20 10 11 Attend monthly/yearly 13 3 Attend weekly or more 2 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007-2012. 25

Common Reasons for Leaving Childhood Religion Raised Catholic, now unaffiliated Raised Protestant, now unaffiliated % saying important reason left former religion % % Just gradually drifted away from the religion 71 71 Spiritual needs not being met 43 39 Stopped believing in the religion s teachings 65 50 Found a religion they liked more 10 11 Unhappy with teachings about the Bible 29 36 Dissatisfied with atmosphere at worship services 26 29 Dissatisfied with clergy at congregation 18 25 Source: Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S., April 2009, Pew Research Center s Forum on Religion & Public Life 26

Liminal Nones % of liminal nones in various religious traditions Source: Chaeyoon Lim, Carol Ann MacGregor, and Robert Putnam, Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity Among Religious Nones, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 49, Number 4, December 2010. 27

IV Ideology Among Registered Voters Conservativerateral Mod- Lib- % % % All registered voters 39 36 21 Unaffiliated 20 38 38 Atheist/Agnostic 13 32 51 Nothing in particular 23 41 31 Affiliated 44 36 17 Christian 46 35 15 Protestant 48 33 15 White evangelical 65 25 7 White mainline 39 39 20 Black Protestant 33 39 23 Catholic 39 42 17 White Catholic 41 42 15 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January- July 2012. Based on registered voters. Those who did not give an answer are not shown. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. 28

Social and Political Issues U.S. general public Unaffiliated Affiliated Abortion should be % % % Legal in all/most cases 53 72 49 Illegal in all/most cases 41 24 46 Don t know 6 4 6 100 100 100 Same-sex marriage Favor 48 73 41 Oppose 44 20 50 Don t know 9 7 9 100 100 100 Prefer Bigger gov t, more services 39 42 38 Smaller gov t, fewer services 52 50 52 Depends/don t know 9 8 10 100 100 100 Source: Abortion figures from aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2011-2012. Same-sex marriage figures from aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2012. Views on role of government from Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey, January 2012. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 29

Party Identification Among Registered Voters Rep/ Lean Rep Dem/ Lean Dem % % All registered voters 43 48 Unaffiliated 26 63 Atheist/Agnostic 18 73 Nothing in particular 30 58 Affiliated 48 45 Christian 49 43 Protestant 50 42 White evangelical 71 22 White mainline 52 40 Black Protestant 7 89 Catholic 44 47 White Catholic 50 41 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January- July 2012. Based on registered voters. Those with no party preference (who refused to lean) are not shown. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. 30

Religious Composition of Democratic/Democratic- Leaning Registered Voters Other 18% Religiously Unaffiliated 24% Hispanic Catholic 5% White Catholic 13% Black Protestant 16% White evangelical Protestant 9% White mainline Protestant 14% Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January-July 2012. Based on registered voters. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Other includes Protestants and Catholics of a race or ethnic group not shown and those affiliated with other religions. 31

Views About Churches and Religious Organizations % saying they agree that churches and other religious organizations do each of the following Unaffiliated Affiliated Are too concerned with money and power Focus too much on rules Are too involved with politics 41 47 47 70 67 67 Bring people together and strengthen community bonds Play important role helping poor and needy 78 77 90 90 Protect and strengthen morality 52 81 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Q73a-g. Those saying disagree and those who did not give an answer are not shown. 32

Views on Religion and Politics Affiliated Unaffiliated Important for a president to have strong religious beliefs 32% 75% Churches should keep out of political matters 51 66 Churches should not endorse candidates 64 75 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Sources: Data on president s religious beliefs and churches endorsing candidates comes from Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Data on church involvement in political matters comes from Pew Research Center survey, March 2012. 33

In Their Own Words Main Reasons for Leaving Childhood Religion Raised Catholic, now unaffiliated Raised Protestant, now unaffiliated % % Religious and moral beliefs 48 40 Do not believe in former religion/any religion 21 14 Biblical/Scriptural reason 2 4 Religious institutions, practices and people 36 20 Pedophilia scandal/molestation 2 0 Personal spirituality 6 9 Life cycle changes 5 4 Family reasons 4 2 Other reasons 10 21 Don t know/refused 4 10 Source: Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S., April 2009, Pew Research Center s Forum on Religion & Public Life 34

(2) Wealth and Religious Commitment 3.00 Africa Kuwait 2.50 North America Religious Comm mitment Score 2.00 1.50 1.00 Mexico East Europe Israel Canada U.S. West Europe East Europe Latin America Middle East Asia 0.50 Africa West Europe 0.00 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000 Per Capita GDP (Standardized) This chart has been reprinted from World Publics Welcome Global Trade But Not Immigration, Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2007. 35

Influence of Religion on Society % saying religion as a whole is its influence on American life Increasing Losing Same (vol.) DK % % % % U.S. general public 25 66 2 7 = 100 Unaffiliated 27 63 2 7 = 100 Atheist/Agnostic 34 59 2 5 = 100 Nothing in particular 24 65 2 8 = 100 Affiliated 24 67 2 6 = 100 Christian 24 68 2 6 = 100 Protestant 25 67 2 6 = 100 White evangelical 21 72 2 4 = 100 White mainline 20 73 2 6 = 100 Black Protestant 33 60 2 4 = 100 Catholic 21 70 3 6 = 100 White Catholic 18 75 2 5 = 100 Hispanic Catholic 27 60 5 8 = 100 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Q42. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. Figures may not add to 100% due to rounding. 36

Declining Share Say They Never Doubt the Existence of God 100 % 90 80 88 Agree that "I never doubt the existence of God." 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 10 Disagree 18 0 1987 1997 2007 2012 Source: Surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 1987-2012. 37

Religious Attendance of U.S. Adults, 2003-2012 50 % 40 39 Weekly or more 37 34 33 30 Monthly/Yearly 20 25 Seldom/Never 29 10 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2003-2012. 38

Importance of Religion, 1992-2012 100 90 80 70 60 50 % who say religion is very important 58 59 58 58 57 60 61 59 59 60 61 58 59 59 57 56 56 54 54 55 58 40 30 20 10 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Source: Surveys conducted by Gallup, 1992-2012. 39

Importance of Prayer, 1987-2012 Do you agree or disagree that prayer is an important part of your daily life? 90 80 70 76 78 77 80 Agree 78 78 78 79 81 78 78 76 60 50 40 Disagree 30 20 23 21 22 19 22 21 21 21 18 21 20 23 10 0 1987 1988 1990 1991 1994 1997 1999 2002 2003 2007 2009 2012 Source: Surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 1987-2012. 40

(3) Religious Disaffiliation by Demographic Groups 2007 2012 Change % who describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated among % % U.S. general public 15.3 19.6 +4.3 White 15 20 +5 Black 13 15 +2 Hispanic 16 16 -- Married 14 14 -- Not married 20 24 +4 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2007 and 2012. Hispanic figures based only on surveys that included Spanish interviewing. Changes that are statistically significant are shown in bold. 41

Marital Status of Religious Groups Married Living with partner Divorced/ Separated/Widowed Never married % % % % U.S. general public 51 7 19 23 = 100 Affiliated 54 6 20 20 = 100 Christian 54 6 21 19 = 100 Protestant 54 5 23 19 = 100 White evangelical 62 3 22 13 = 100 White mainline 58 6 22 14 = 100 Black Protestant 36 6 27 32 = 100 Catholic 54 8 18 20 = 100 White Catholic 58 6 19 16 = 100 Hispanic Catholic 49 10 17 25 = 100 Unaffiliated 39 11 16 34 = 100 Atheist/agnostic 36 11 12 40 = 100 Nothing in particular 40 11 17 32 = 100 Source: Aggregated data from surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, January - July 2012. Results repercentaged to exclude nonresponse. White and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. 42

Current Marital Status, 1960-2010 % Note: Based on adults ages 18 and older. Percents may not total 100% due to rounding. Source: Pew Research Center s Social and Demographic Trends analysis of Decennial Census (1960-2000) and American Community Survey data (2008, 2010), IPUMS. 43

Median Age at First Marriage, 1960-2011 Source: Pew Research Center s Social and Demographic Trends analysis of Current Population Survey, March and Annual Social and Economic Supplements. 44

Trend in Party Identification: 1939-2012 Democrat 41 35 18 Republican 38 32 24 Independent Source: 1929-1989 yearly averages from the Gallup Organization interactive website. 1990-2012 yearly totals from Times Mirror/Pew Research Center aggregate files. Based on general public. Independent data not available for 1951-1956. 45

Partisan Profile of Nonvoters All adults Likely voters Nonvoters Party ID % % % Republican 28 34 17 Democrat 33 35 29 Independent 33 27 44 Source: Pew Research Center poll conducted October 24-28, 2012. Nonvoters include all unregistered adults as well as registered voters who do not meet the criteria for likely voters used in Pew Research Center polls. 46

Rise and Decline of League Bowling Source: Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, 2000. 47

Confidence in Institutions, 1973-2011 % saying they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence Question wording: Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? Note: Data not available for Congress in 1987. Source: Gallup New Service Survey, conducted June 9-12, 2011. Based telephone interviews of a national sample of 1,020 adults. 48

Confidence in the Church/Organized Religion % saying they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence Question wording: Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? Source: Gallup New Service Survey, conducted June 7-10, 2012. Based telephone interviews of a national sample of 1,004 adults. 49

Other Organizations to Which Religiously Active Americans Belong Those who are active in religious groups Those who aren t active in such groups Sports or recreation leagues 35% 17% Charitable or volunteer organizations 34 15 Professional or trade associations 29 14 Political parties or organizations 22 10 Alumni associations 20 10 Performance arts groups 19 5 Literary, discussion, or study groups 18 6 Veterans organizations 11 4 Sports fantasy leagues 8 6 Farm organizations 7 2 Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2011 The civic and community engagement of religiously active Americans, p. 14-15. 50

Importance of Shared Community % saying belonging to a community of people who share your values and beliefs is Very important Somewhat important Not too/not at all important U.S. general public 49 34 16 Black Protestant 61 29 8 Hispanic Catholic 61 27 11 White evangelical 59 31 9 White Catholic 43 41 15 White mainline 40 43 16 Unaffiliated 28 40 31 Source: Pew Research Center survey, June 28-July 9, 2012. Q22 Those who did not give an answer are not shown. Whites and blacks include only those who are not Hispanic; Hispanics are of any race. 51

llugo@pewresearch.org