Study details Americans’ religious beliefs and behaviors as well as their social and political attitudes

Washington, D.C.—In a noon EDT conference call for journalists on Monday, June 23, 2008, the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life will release the second report of a landmark survey that examines the tremendous diversity of Americans’ religious beliefs and practices as well as their social and political views. This new analysis follows the first report of the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, which was published in February 2008 and detailed the size and demographic characteristics of religious groups in the U.S.

Based on interviews conducted in English and Spanish with a representative sample of more than 35,000 adults, part two of the Landscape Survey includes a wealth of information on the religious beliefs and practices of the American public. It also explores the social and political attitudes of religious groups, including groups that are as small as three-tenths of 1 percent of the adult population.

Topics explored in the report include the importance of religion in people’s lives; belief in God and the afterlife; attitudes toward the authority of sacred writings; frequency of worship attendance, prayer and meditation; and views of religion and morality, among others. The report also examines ideological and partisan orientation; attitudes on abortion, homosexuality, evolution and other social issues; views on helping the needy, the environment, and the size and proper role of government; and opinions on foreign affairs.

Subsequent releases will include a re-contact survey that delves deeper into religious-political identity, issues related to conversion and attitudes towards religious pluralism in America.

Telephone News Conference

WHO:
Luis Lugo, Director, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
John Green, Senior Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
Greg Smith, Research Fellow, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

WHEN:
Monday, June 23, 2008, noon EDT

RSVP:
Email Robbie Mills at rmills@pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion to reserve your place

The online presentation of the findings, which includes interactive mapping, dynamic charts and a variety of other tools, will be available at religions.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion at noon EDT on June 23.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is a project of the Pew Research Center.