Religion in the United States

Despite the fact that the United States is an advanced technological nation, it is a religious society. In fact, in 1984, 94 percent of Americans claimed they believed in a god or a universal spirit (Gallup poll). An overwhelming percentage of Americans profess belief in a traditional religion (90 percent) and frequently participate in the activities of formal religious organizations (Tables 14.1 and 14.2). In a 1985 Gallup poll, Americans reported their religious affiliations as follows: Protestant, 51 percent or 90 million adults; Roman Catholics, 28 percent or 42 million adults; and Jews, 2 percent or 5 million adults. The remaining 10 percent identified with other religions or had no religious preference. The Gallup poll also showed that more than 40 percent of American adults attend church or synagogue frequently and that almost all teenagers, though not attracted to formal religious organizations, consider religion highly important and pray regularly.

During the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the presentation of religious programming in the media. Technological developments such as satellites have enabled the electronic church to become a major force in broadcasting. By the mid-1980s there were over 1,000 radio stations, nearly 100 television stations, and 4 broadcast networks that identified themselves as "religious." Almost 14 million Americans report that they regularly watch religious programming. Some critics suggest that the rise in the electronic church is better understood as business fund raising than as a new form of worship, yet whatever the motivation, the electronic church has become a powerful force (Gerbner et al., 1984; Hoover, 1983; Doan, 1984).

Religion in the united states Religious Affiliation

National surveys reveal that about 90% of Americans identify with a particular religion. Formal affiliation with a religious organization, however, characterizes only about 60% of the population – a proportion that has remained relatively over the last fifty years (Gallup, 1984; U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1985). One notable pattern is a somewhat lower rate of religious affiliation in western states, where higher geographical mobility seems to discourage membership in religious organizations (Welch, 1983; Gallup, 1984).

The United States has no official religion; the separation of church and state mandated by the First Amendment to the Constitution. But the Christian-Judaic tradition certainly dominates American culture, so that members of other religions (and those with no religion) may often feel like “outsiders”. As Table 16-2 indicates, about 65 percent of Americans claim to be Protestants, Catholics account for about 25 percent, and less than 2 percent identify themselves as Jews.

This variation – as well as denominational variation among Protestants – makes American society appear to be religiously pluralistic. As Figure 16-1 suggests, however, a single religious affiliation predominates within most geographic regions of the United States. New England, urban areas of the Midwest, and the Southwest are largely Catholic. The southern states are overwhelmingly Baptist, while Lutherans predominate in the northern plains states. Members of the Church of the Latter – Day Saints (Mormons) are heavily concentrated in and around Utah. In only a few areas (shown in the figure with no color) does no one religion represent at least one – fourth of the population. Therefore, although American society as a whole is, indeed, pluralistic, from the point of view of an individual anywhere in America one religious affiliation is likely to stand out.

Table 16-2 RELIGIOUS IDENTIFICATION AMONG AMERICANS, 1987

Religion Proportion Indicating Preference

Protestant denominations 64, 8%

Baptist 21, 8%

Methodist 9, 9%

Lutheran 5, 7%

Presbyterian 5, 3%

Episcopalian 2, 1%

All others, or no denomination 20, 0%

Catholic 24, 2%

Jewish 1, 4%