Religon and Politics
Running head: RELIGION AND POLITICS
Religion and Politics: A survey Investigation
Abstract A study was conducted on the relationship between religion and politics. 16 students (8 male, 8 female) were surveyed on the campus of Morgan State University. The purpose of the study was to learn about the influence of religion in the respondents’ childhood. In addition, the study was concerned with whether the respondents saw religious affiliation as an important factor in their decision to vote for a presidential or vice presidential candidate. The results of the survey indicate that there is indeed a relationship between religion and voting behavior.
Religion and Politics: A Survey Investigation The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of religion on voting behaviors. Previous research on this topic has suggested that there is a link between religion and conservative political beliefs. Billet (1995) found that church attendance is associated with conservative voting behaviors. Niemi & Stanley (2006) found that regular church-goers are more likely to vote for Republican candidates. According to Sherkat (2007), conservative religious values impact voting behaviors because people with such values feel like they are isolated from the values of mainstream society. A study by Kline (2007) indicated that conservative politicians often use religion as a way to attract voters. However, some studies have failed to find a link between religion and politics among voters. For example, Flere (2001) conducted an extensive survey study among voters in Europe and found that most respondents denied a strong connection between their religious views and their political views. In order to clarify the issue, a survey was conducted with a sample of students at Morgan State University. The survey questions were concerned with the influence of religion in the respondents’ lives. In addition, the
Religion and Politics: A survey Investigation
Abstract A study was conducted on the relationship between religion and politics. 16 students (8 male, 8 female) were surveyed on the campus of Morgan State University. The purpose of the study was to learn about the influence of religion in the respondents’ childhood. In addition, the study was concerned with whether the respondents saw religious affiliation as an important factor in their decision to vote for a presidential or vice presidential candidate. The results of the survey indicate that there is indeed a relationship between religion and voting behavior.
Religion and Politics: A Survey Investigation The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of religion on voting behaviors. Previous research on this topic has suggested that there is a link between religion and conservative political beliefs. Billet (1995) found that church attendance is associated with conservative voting behaviors. Niemi & Stanley (2006) found that regular church-goers are more likely to vote for Republican candidates. According to Sherkat (2007), conservative religious values impact voting behaviors because people with such values feel like they are isolated from the values of mainstream society. A study by Kline (2007) indicated that conservative politicians often use religion as a way to attract voters. However, some studies have failed to find a link between religion and politics among voters. For example, Flere (2001) conducted an extensive survey study among voters in Europe and found that most respondents denied a strong connection between their religious views and their political views. In order to clarify the issue, a survey was conducted with a sample of students at Morgan State University. The survey questions were concerned with the influence of religion in the respondents’ lives. In addition, the
References: Billet, J. B. (1995). Church involvement, ethnocentrism, and voting for a radical right-wing party: diverging behavioral outcomes of equal attitudinal dispositions. Sociology of Religion, 56(3), 303-326. Flere, S. (2001). The impact of religiosity upon political stands: survey findings from seven Central European countries. East European Quarterly, 35(2), 183-195. Kline, S. (2007, Fall). The morality and politics of consumer religion: how consumer religion fuels the culture wars in the United States. Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, 17. Retrieved from http://www.usask.ca/relst/jrpc/art17-consumerreligion.html Niemi, R. G., & Stanley, H. W. (2006). Partisanship, party coalitions, and group support, 1952-2004. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 36(2), 172-188. Sherkat, D. E. (2007). Religion and survey non-response bias: toward explaining the moral voter gap between surveys and voting. Sociology of Religion, 68(1), 83-95.