2006-08-23-皮尤-Many_Americans_Uneasy_with_Mix_of_Religion_and_Politics_39页_143kb

Summary of the Pew Research Report: Religion and Politics in the U.S. (August 2006)

Core Content

This report from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life explores public attitudes toward the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. It highlights a growing unease with the political approaches of both liberal and conservative religious groups, while also noting the persistent influence of religion on public life and policy.

Main Views

• Public Perception of Religious Influence:

  • 69% of Americans believe liberals have gone too far in keeping religion out of schools and government.
  • 49% of Americans express wariness about Christian conservatives imposing their religious values.
  • 59% say religion's influence on the nation is declining, and 79% of those believe this is a bad thing.
  • 45% think religion's influence on government is decreasing, and 42% think it is increasing.
  • Most Americans (63%) believe the will of the people should have more influence on U.S. laws than the Bible, even when it conflicts.
  • 32% believe the Bible should be more important in shaping laws.

• Parties and Religion:

  • The Democratic Party is viewed as unfriendly to religion by 26%, with the "God problem" remaining a challenge.
  • The Republican Party is seen as friendly to religion by 47%, down from 55% in 2005.
  • White evangelical Protestants are the most politically active religious group, with a 14-point decline in support for the GOP among this group.

• Religious Left vs. Religious Right:

  • Only 7% identify with the religious left, while 11% identify with the religious right.
  • The religious left is less cohesive than the religious right, with members coming from diverse religious traditions.
  • Young people (18-29) and African Americans are more likely to identify with the religious left.
  • White evangelical Christians are the most likely to identify with the religious right, with 20% of them doing so.

• Religious Beliefs and Politics:

  • White evangelicals are more likely to believe the Bible should guide laws and are more supportive of Israel.
  • 60% of white evangelicals believe the Bible is the actual word of God and should be taken literally, while only 35% of the general public share this view.
  • 65% of those who take the Bible literally believe it should have more influence on law than the will of the people.
  • 92% of Americans who attend services at least monthly say their clergy speak out on poverty and homelessness, while 59% report hearing about abortion, 53% about Iraq, and 52% about laws regarding homosexuals.

• Religion and Science:

  • 65% of Americans believe scientific advances will help mankind, and 19% think they will harm it.
  • There is no religious divide on the positive view of scientific progress, but tensions remain on issues like evolution and intelligent design.
  • Only 40% of Americans say they hear their clergy discuss evolution and intelligent design, while 92% hear about poverty.

• Religious Views on the End Times:

  • 79% of Christians believe in the second coming of Jesus, but only 20% expect it to occur in their lifetime.
  • Even among those who believe the Bible is literally true, 37% expect Christ to return in their lifetime.

Key Information

• Religious Influence on Government:

  • 45% think religion's influence on government is decreasing.
  • 42% think it is increasing.
  • Republicans are more likely to view increasing religious influence as a good thing (23% vs. 10% of Democrats).

• Clergy and Public Issues:

  • Clergy are most vocal on poverty and homelessness, with 92% of those who attend services at least monthly hearing about it.
  • Abortion, Iraq, and laws regarding homosexuals are also frequently addressed.
  • Evolution and intelligent design are discussed by 40%, while stem cell research and immigration are less common topics.

• Religious Attitudes Across Groups:

  • White evangelicals are more likely to believe the Bible is literal and to support religious influence in law.
  • Catholics and white mainline Protestants are more likely to support the will of the people in shaping laws.
  • Seculars are the most supportive of secular influence in law, with 91% favoring it.

• Political Role of Churches:

  • 51% of Americans believe churches should express views on political issues, while 46% think they should stay out.
  • Blacks, younger people, conservative Republicans, and Southerners are more likely to support churches speaking out.
  • Whites, older people, liberal Democrats, and Easterners are more likely to think churches should stay out of politics.

Conclusion

The report underscores a complex relationship between religion and politics in the U.S., with the majority of Americans feeling that both liberals and conservatives have taken extreme positions. While there is a decline in religious influence on national life, the public still favors more religion in society. White evangelical Christians remain a powerful political force, with strong views on Biblical literalism, religious influence in law, and support for Israel. The religious left, though small in numbers, is gaining visibility, especially among young people and African Americans, but lacks the cohesion of the religious right.