PRC-宗教类型学按宗教分类美国人的新方法（英文）-2018.8.29-99页-4mb

The Religious Typology Summary

Core Content

The Pew Research Center introduced a new classification system called the Religious Typology in 2018, which categorizes Americans into seven groups based on their religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, and values, rather than traditional denominational affiliations. This typology provides a more nuanced understanding of how Americans relate to religion and spirituality, highlighting both commonalities and differences across diverse faith traditions and secular perspectives.

Main Viewpoints

• The typology groups are defined by beliefs and behaviors, not by race, ethnicity, age, education, or political opinions.
• The groups reflect a spectrum from highly religious to nonreligious, with the middle groups representing somewhat religious individuals.
• Religious engagement and beliefs about God are key differentiators among the groups.
• New Age beliefs such as psychics, reincarnation, and spiritual energy in physical objects are common even among those with traditional religious affiliations.
• The typology reveals intrinsic connections between religion, race, and politics, especially in the highly religious groups.

Key Information

1. Typology Groups Overview

• Sunday Stalwarts: Most religious group. Attend church weekly, pray daily, and see religion as a central part of life. They are mostly Protestant, with a strong presence of Catholics and other faiths.
• God-and-Country Believers: Less active in religious practice but still hold traditional beliefs. They tend to be more conservative and politically right-leaning.
• Diversely Devout: Diverse in both demographics and beliefs. They are more open to New Age ideas and include a large proportion of people who identify as "nothing in particular."
• Relaxed Religious: Moderately religious, with some belief in God and spiritual practices. They are more likely to be non-Christian and less likely to attend services regularly.
• Spiritually Awake: Emphasize spirituality over organized religion. They are more open to New Age beliefs and have a more secular outlook.
• Religion Resisters: Skeptical of organized religion but still believe in a higher power or spiritual force. They are more likely to identify as "nothing in particular" or agnostic.
• Solidly Secular: Least religious group. Mostly white and male, with high education levels. They reject belief in God and New Age ideas, and are generally liberal and Democratic in political views.

2. Religious Beliefs and Practices

• Belief in God: All highly religious groups (Sunday Stalwarts, God-and-Country Believers, Diversely Devout) believe in the God of the Bible. However, the Diversely Devout are more open to New Age beliefs.
• Prayer and Worship: Sunday Stalwarts are the most active in prayer and attending services. Relaxed Religious and Solidly Secular are the least active.
• New Age Beliefs: These beliefs are more common among nonreligious and somewhat religious groups. Over half of the Diversely Devout and nearly all of the Spiritually Awake and Religion Resisters believe in spiritual energy in physical objects.
• Moral Beliefs: The most religious groups (Sunday Stalwarts, God-and-Country Believers, Diversely Devout) believe that belief in God is necessary for morality. The less religious groups (Relaxed Religious, Spiritually Awake, Religion Resisters, Solidly Secular) generally disagree.

3. Political and Ideological Leanings

• The highly religious groups (Sunday Stalwarts and God-and-Country Believers) are predominantly Republican and conservative.
• The nonreligious groups (Spiritually Awake and Religion Resisters) are more Democratic and liberal.
• The somewhat religious groups (Relaxed Religious and Solidly Secular) show more ideological diversity, though they tend to lean left.

4. Sources of Meaning and Fulfillment

• Family and relationships are the most important source of meaning for most groups.
• Religious faith is the most important source for Sunday Stalwarts.
• Being outdoors and spiritual practices (e.g., meditation) are also significant sources of meaning for many, especially among the somewhat religious and nonreligious groups.

5. Methodology

• The typology was created using cluster analysis, a statistical technique that groups people based on shared characteristics.
• The analysis included 16 questions about religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, and the role of religion in their lives.
• The typology does not use traditional denominational affiliations as a primary sorting criterion, but rather focuses on beliefs and behaviors.

Structure of the Typology

Conclusion

The Religious Typology offers a new way to understand the diversity and complexity of religious belief and practice in the United States. It shows that while traditional affiliations are important, beliefs and behaviors are the primary factors in categorizing individuals. The typology also highlights the intersection of religion with politics and identity, and underscores the growing presence of nonreligious and spiritually diverse individuals in American society.