Political Viewpoints of American Religions
How Does a Particular Doctrine Contribute to Its Members’ Political Viewpoints?
I believe that religion, education and the First Amendment are the most important topics to be discussing in America right now. In a recent post, I shared my thinking about the similarities between religion and education, arguing that, in the context of the First Amendment, religion is synonymous with education—both are means by which we learn beliefs, habits and skills—from which emerge our identities and contribute to our individuality. This would imply that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or education, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This post looks at the political viewpoints of American religions based on data from the Pew Religious Landscape Study. What can we say about a religion’s doctrine as a causal factor to its members’ political viewpoints?
I welcome comments and examples. Please share what you know about these doctrines.
As you read through this post, ask yourself if it would be a good idea for government to fund or favor any one of these religions? Maybe you have a particular favorite, or a least favorite? Maybe you believe that some of these religions are espousing bad ideas and should be censored? And what is so special about religious beliefs that written into our highest law is, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion?” How are religious beliefs any different than beliefs that we gain through education?
With those questions in mind here’s the data.
Table 1 shows each faith’s membership percentage that identify as conservative.
61% Latter-day Saints 55% Evangelical Protestant 37% Catholic 36% Historically Black Protestant 34% Orthodox Christian 22% Muslim 21% Jewish 20% Jehovah's Witness 16% Buddhist 14% Hindu
Observations
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the most likely to identify as conservative, followed 6 points later by Evangelical Protestants. All other American religions are significantly less conservative, by at least 18 percentage points.
In the middle, are grouped Catholics, Historically Black Protestants and Orthodox Christians, having a lower likelihood (37-34%) of identifying as conservative.
Members of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu are similar (22-14%) in their identities as non-conservative.
Upon closer examination, Jehovah’s Witnesses hold a unique perspective in which 20% identify as conservative, 18% moderate, 12% progressive and 50% answering “don’t know” to this question.
Questions
What about the doctrines of Latter-day Saints and Evangelical Protestants might cause them to have conservative dominant viewpoints?
What about the doctrines of Catholics, Historically Black Protestants and Orthodox Christians, might cause them to be moderately non-conservative?
Are there common themes between Muslin, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu doctrines that might cause them to have similar non-conservative views?
Table 2 shows each faith’s membership percentage that favor smaller government and fewer government services.
75% Latter-day Saints 64% Evangelical Protestant 61% Orthodox Christian 59% Mainline Protestant 48% Catholic 40% Hindu 40% Jewish 40% Buddhist 32% Jehovah's Witness 23% Historically Black Protestant 23% Muslim
Observations
If we define libertarianism as the political viewpoint that favors smaller government, then members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the most likely (75%) to identify as libertarian .
There are three other Christian faiths - Evangelical, Orthodox and Mainline grouped together that are (64-59%) likely to identify with a viewpoint favoring smaller government.
Catholics have a 50% likelihood of identifying with a smaller government perspective, standing alone in the middle.
Hindus, Jews and Buddhists are similarly (40%) and predominantly not in favor of the smaller government viewpoint.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Historically Black Protestants and Muslims are the least in favor of smaller government.
Questions
What about the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints would cause them to be far more libertarian than all other American religions?
What about Catholic doctrine might cause them to be “50/50 libertarian”?
What about the doctrines of Historically Black Protestants and Muslims might cause their predominantly non-smaller-government perspective?
Table 3 shows each faith’s membership percentage that are Republican or Lean Toward Republican.
70% Latter-day Saints 56% Evangelical Protestant 44% Mainline Protestant 37% Catholic 34% Orthodox Christian 26% Jewish 17% Muslim 16% Buddhist 13% Hindu 10% Historically Black Protestant 7% Jehovah's Witness
Observations and Questions
This table shows Latter-day Saints being 14 percentage points more likely to be Republican or Lean Republican than the nearest other Republican-dominant faith—the Evangelical Protestants. These are the only two dominant faiths that have a dominant Republican viewpoint (70% and 56% likely); all other faiths lean non-Republican.
Jehovah Witnesses are only 7% Republican, but upon closer inspection they are also only 18% Democrat or Lean Toward Democrat. It seems they are against political party affiliation. What explains this?
There are four parties grouped tightly together between 17-10% that are non-Republican or lean non-Republican. These are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Historically Black Protestant. What do these doctrines have in common?
The most pronounced result of this study, in my opinion—is that of all faiths, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the most likely to identify as 1) libertarian, 2) conservative, and 3) Republican.
To the extent that this is a good thing, what do you attribute it to?
What in particular can we say about their doctrine that promotes a worldview of limited government and respect for life, liberty and property?
What role does dogma play in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? To what extent is this a good thing?
In what ways are Latter-day Saints a threat to you? Or a benefit to you?
I suggest that we can use the results of this study to understand the similarities between education and religion in the context of the First Amendment, showing that education plays a religious-like role in contributing to political viewpoints and thus shaping political outcomes. More on this next time.
I encourage others to share their knowledge of these doctrines that might explain these viewpoints. Please keep it respectful. I plan to keep it both positive and respectful. I apologize for mistakes and misleading statements in my initial postings. I’ve made a number of corrections and improvements since.
Statistics in this post are based on my interpretation of the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study, conducted in 2007 and 2014, which survey more than 35,000 Americans from all 50 states about their religious affiliations, beliefs and practices, and social and political views.