The Polls: A Rebirth of Religion?

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 45, Heft 4, S. 576-585

Abstract

Information gathered by the Princeton Religious Research Center & various other PO surveys is examined in order to assess present US religious belief & practice. Seven indicators chosen by George Gallup, Jr., of the Princeton organization to evaluate the place of religion in US life are: "confidence in organized religion, religious identification, church/synagogue membership, church/synagogue attendance, importance of religion in personal life, perceptions of the influence of religion in today's society, & the saliency of religion in today's society." Focusing on the seven indicators with the understanding that not everything can be quantified, it appears that religion in the US is not undergoing a revival, but seems to be leveling off after a lengthy decline. A modest upturn may indicate an insignificant fluctuation, or even the beginning of a trend; there is not enough evidence to make a firmer prediction. 20 Tables. D. Abrahams.