Pew Research Center's Religious Typology

[lpetrich]

How the religious typology groups compare | Pew Research Center
Their grouping:

• Sunday Stalwarts - Religious traditionalists actively involved with their faith and engaged in their congregations
• God-and-Country Believers - Socially and politically conservative, most likely to view immigrants as hurting American culture
• Diversely Devout - Traditionally religious, but majorities also believe in psychics, reincarnation and that spiritual energy can be located in physical objects
• Relaxed Religious - Say it's not necessary to believe in God to be a moral person. Religion is important to them, but few engage in traditional practices
• Spiritually Awake - Few practice their religion in traditional ways, but most believe in heaven and hell, and subscribe to New Age beliefs
• Religion Resisters - Most think organized religion does more harm than good; politically liberal and Democratic
• Solidly Secular - Hold virtually no religious beliefs and reject New Age beliefs

I took the quiz, and I'm Solidly Secular.

Asked about:

• Religious engagement
  • Involvement in religious organizations
  • Prayer
  • Religious service attendance
• Religious and spiritual identity
  • Consider self spiritual
  • Consider self religious
• Religious beliefs
  • Belief in God
  • Interpretation of scripture
  • God and morality
  • Belief in heaven
  • Belief in hell
  • Belief in spiritual energy
• Sources of meaning and fulfillment
  • Meaning and fulfillment from religious faith
  • Meaning and fulfillment from spiritual practices
  • Meaning and fulfillment from being outdoors and experiencing nature
• Religion’s impact
  • Impact of religious organizations on American society
  • Religious beliefs help with family
• Demographics
  • Religious affiliation
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Race/ethnicity
  • Marital Status
  • Education
  • Income
  • Political identification
  • Region

I am disappointed to discover that it did not ask about reincarnation.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

The category "diversely devout" does actually mention reincarnation.

The highly religious are 39% and the non-religious are 29%. It's amazing and wonderful that almost a third of the population self-describe as non-religious.

Of the "highly religious" 11% are headed into the secular camp, if not already there. I know the type, they attend traditional services because they are emotionally imprinted but their lives are much bigger and don't so closely relate to their old upbringings.

I had a conversation with a traditional catholic the other day and he was very surprised to find out that "Easter" is named for a pagan goddess and pagan ritual. It just blew him away. I think he went home and immediately googled for more information.

 

[Tigers!]

I was classed as aSunday Stalwart. Not surprised by that.

 

[southernhybrid]

I am solidly secular, no surprise there.

 

[lpetrich]

The category "diversely devout" does actually mention reincarnation.

That is correct, even if it was not asked about in the poll. But something like 20% - 30% of Americans believe in reincarnation, including many Xian ones. ‘New Age’ beliefs common among religious, nonreligious Americans | Pew Research Center Paradise Polled: Americans and the Afterlife | HuffPost Some other common beliefs: ghosts and channeling.

Key findings about religion in Western Europe | Pew Research Center -- European "Nones" are less religious than American ones.

 

[ideologyhunter]

I am classed as So Sacrilegious As To Be Already Existing In Hell. Very small demographic on the atheist spectrum. I have bought extra sunblock.

 

[ronburgundy]

Solidly secular, and among the 43% of that group who view religion as doing more harm than good.

The % of those in the less religious, more liberal and secular categories is likely overstated by their results. Compared to the adult US population, their overall sample slightly more male, more unmarried, and more democratic leaning. All of those factors predict more secularism and less religiosity.

Speaking of which, gender is an interestingly strong predictor with males outnumbering females almost 2:1 in the "secular" group and females outnumbering males almost 1.5 : 1 in the "God and Country" group.
Other data shows this is not specific to the US, but a worldwide trend where males comprise the majority of people who are unaffiliated with a religion and/or identify as atheists. And it's not just about social behaviors like attending services, but private prayer and beliefs that religion is more important.

There does not seem to be a notable difference in exposure to religion or social pressure to be religious that could account for that. That suggests there is some more general difference between the genders that leads women to be more religious. That doesn't imply that the difference must be biologically based, just something more general than direct socialization regarding religion.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

There does not seem to be a notable difference in exposure to religion or social pressure to be religious that could account for that. That suggests there is some more general difference between the genders that leads women to be more religious. That doesn't imply that the difference must be biologically based, just something more general than direct socialization regarding religion.

If my marriage is typical I was well ahead of the curve but she eventually discovered the same things. Perhaps it has to do with raising children, bonding, keeping the nest and so doesn't have time to make new discoveries and deprovincialize. Or maybe I'm just a sexist pig.

But even today with the kids well gone she seems to discover things at a slower rate. Academically she is light years ahead of me though. Again, maybe I'm just a sexist pig.

 

[Eldarion Lathria]

Solidly Secular.

Eldarion Lathria

 

[southernhybrid]

Sometimes I think that women tend to be more likely to be religious is because they feel the need for the social support systems that are often created among the religious. I once remember being surrounded be a group of Christian women. They were all talking about how much they loved their churches. They never mentioned any particular religious beliefs, but it was obvious that they found a lot of friendship and support from being members of a church. In the south, it's very difficult to find a social group unless you're a Christian.

Sometimes, our local atheist group meetings are made up of more females than males. Again, it could be that women have a greater need for social networks compared to men. We rarely discuss anything related to religion or atheism when we get together. The women often discuss typical female issues, like motherhood, relationships with grown children, etc. Or we talk politics.

Lately, our group has been decreasing in activity, so I've been spending more time with Christian women. We never talk about anything related to religion, so it's all good. My husband is my closest atheist friend and we were both atheists when we met about forty years ago.

 

[lpetrich]

25 percent of US Christians believe in reincarnation. What’s wrong with this picture? | America Magazine - it's rather grossly heretical.
Reincarnation | Catholic Answers

Members of what is commonly called the “New Age” movement often claim that early Christians believed in reincarnation. Shirley MacLaine, an avid New Age disciple, recalls being taught: “The theory of reincarnation is recorded in the Bible. But the proper interpretations were struck from it during an ecumenical council meeting of the Catholic Church in Constantinople sometime around A.D. 553, called the Council of Nicaea” (Out on a Limb, 234–35).

Historical facts provide no basis for this claim.

I think that that is correct, even if some eccentric early Xian sect believed in reincarnation. Some pagans believed in it, so that belief might have influenced some early Xians.
May a Christian Believe in Reincarnation?

Reincarnation-also known as the transmigration of souls-is not some exotic idea of non-Christian mysticism. In ancient orthodox Jewish and Christian writings, as well as the Holy Scriptures, we can find reincarnation as a fully developed belief, although today it is commonly ignored.

Seems to mix up resurrection with reincarnation, resurrection including getting a new body. But some medieval and recent-century Jewish religious leaders have advocated reincarnation.
What does the Bible say about reincarnation? | Bible.org That it does not happen, as one might expect.
Why don't Christians believe in reincarnation? "ne reason Christians don’t believe in reincarnation—the belief that we come back to life over and over again—is because they believe in heaven."
Why Christians believe in resurrection, not reincarnation
Reincarnation: The Church’s Biggest Lie - also claiming that early Xians believed in reincarnation before a Xian Church Council declared it heretical.
REINCARNATION IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH CHRISTIANITY? | Believersweb.org - "Having looked at what the Bible DOES NOT say in support of reincarnation, let us turn to what the Bible DOES say against reincarnation."
What about reincarnation? It does not happen: "It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)"
Is Reincarnation True? | Living Waters

Hebrews 9:27 clearly tells us that we die once and then face judgment. The Bible never mentions people having a second chance at life or coming back as different people or animals. Jesus told the dying criminal on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” not, “You will have another chance to live a life on this earth.” The Bible teaches that believers go on to eternal life while unbelievers go on to eternal punishment.

What is Reincarnation? Is it Biblical? l Christians Believe in News Age l Falsehoods on Reincarnation - Beliefnet

People are being deceived.
Reincarnation feeds an innate hunger.
Reincarnation takes people away from God.
Reincarnation is a lie of the devil.

Belief in reincarnation is not Christian | The Compass - "Jesus did not suffer and die on the cross for animals or other created things."
"Reincarnation as Taught by Early Christians" by I. M. Oderberg
About Reincarnation, Karma, and Christianity — The Past Life Perspective - "Many Early Christians Embraced Reincarnation"
Comparative Religion - Reincarnation and Christianity
Christian Reincarnation: The Long Forgotten Doctrine - "More scriptural support for reincarnation"
Hidden Beliefs Covered by the Church? Resurrection and Reincarnation in Early Christianity | Ancient Origins
Reincarnation In Early Christianity

 

[lpetrich]

In connection with Xianity and New-Agey beliefs like reincarnation, I have thought of a thought experiment.

Imagine that there was some Xian church that I'll call the Church of the All-Spirit. Its leaders claim that its teachings are derived from the Bible and the theology and practice of historical Xian churches. But its teachings and practices are very typical New-Age teachings and practices. Like pantheism, God being the creative power of the Universe or the Universe itself and the Universe being infinite and eternal. Reincarnation, with exploration of past lives and with souls progressing as they reincarnate. Jesus Christ as a New-Age guru and Ascended Master, complete with him having gotten very spiritually developed in his previous reincarnations. Meditation and visualizations.

Would anyone consider this Church of the All-Spirit a very orthodox representative of Xianity?