Religion and U'S' Politics

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Religion and U.S. Politics
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America a religious nation 90 believe in
God vs. 22 in UK / 4 in FR But 25 attend
church weekly (40 claim to) Is our
religiosity a mile wide and an inch
deep? Sociologist Moral Therapeutic
Deism ? ? ? be good feel
good God RULES SELF
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6 Major Religious Traditions
Pop Religious and Political Distinctives
Evangelical Protestant 25 evangelistic
mostly conservative   Mainline Protestant
20 social justice moderate or
centrist   Catholics 25 split!
traditional/moderate/progressive   Secular
15 non-religious beliefs behavior
liberal Jewish lt2 political liberals
pro-Israel foreign policy Black Protestant
10 economically liberal/socially conservative 
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The 12 Tribes of U.S. Politics on the LEFT
side Percent vote for BUSH Black
Prot Muslim/Jewish Secular Relig. Left
17 23 26 30
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The 12 Tribes of U.S. Politics in the
MIDDLE Percent vote for BUSH Spiritual
but Latinos Convertible White Bread not
religious Catholics Protestants 37
45 55 58
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The 12 Tribes of U.S. Politics on the RIGHT
side Percent vote for BUSH Moderate
Evang. Heartland Culture Religious
Right Warriors 64 72
88
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The God Gap in Voting (religious service
attendance) those with HIGH, or more than
weekly, ATTENDANCE tend to vote for REPUBLICANS
by a 21 margin those who NEVER attend any
kind of services tend to vote for DEMOCRATIC
candidates by 21 margin
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• 12 Tribes GROUP QUESTIONS
• What do you say are the most interestingor
  important findings from this study?
• Where are you? Was it easy or hard to fit?
• How did religion impact 2008 presidential race?

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• How did religion impact 2008?
• Obama mass emails claimed hes a Muslim?12 of
  U.S. population still believed it Nov. 4
• Republican nomination Mitt Romney (Mormon)
  and Mike Huckabee (Southern Baptist minister)
• Obamas pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright and
  controversial sermons and statements
• Conclusion ECONOMY trumped religion as issue 1

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• How did religion impact 2008?
• CONCLUSIONS
• These issues were not decisive in these contests
  those who believed Obama rumors werent
  likelyto vote for him anyway many did not vote
  at all. Romney was weakened a bit by Mormon
  issue.
• OBAMA made slight gains among specific religious
  groups, like Latino Catholics young
  evangelicals BUT the gains not much higher than
  overall gains.
• the ECONOMY trumped religion as issue 1 in 08

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• Web EX
• online exercise
• exploring religion in the U.S.
• http//www.thearda.com/
• U.S. Congregational Membership reports county /
  state
• Quick Stats U.S. Denominations intro /
  distribution / over time
• If you have time, feel free to look around the
  site and use other tools