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Survey Reports
August 30, 2005
Religion A Strength And Weakness For Both Parties
Questionnaire Part 1
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
AND PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE
JULY 2005 RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
July 7-17, 2005
N=2000
ON FORM ONE Q.1 PRECEDES Q.2 --- ON FORM TWO, Q.2 PRECEDES Q.1
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? [IF DK
ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall do you approve or disapprove of the
way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Dis- Don't
Approve approve know
July, 2005 47 46 7=100
June, 2005 42 49 9=100
May, 2005 43 50 7=100
Late March, 2005 49 46 5=100
Mid-March, 2005 45 46 9=100
February, 2005 46 47 7=100
January, 2005 50 43 7=100
2004
December, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-October, 2004 44 48 8=100
August, 2004 46 45 9=100
July, 2004 46 46 8=100
June, 2004 48 43 9=100
May, 2004 44 48 8=100
Late April, 2004 48 43 9=100
Early April, 2004 43 47 10=100
Late March, 2004 47 44 9=100
Mid-March, 2004 46 47 7=100
February, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-January, 2004 56 34 10=100
Early January, 2004 58 35 7=100
2003
December, 2003 57 34 9=100
November, 2003 50 40 10=100
October, 2003 50 42 8=100
September, 2003 55 36 9=100
Mid-August, 2003 56 32 12=100
Early August, 2003 53 37 10=100
Mid-July, 2003 58 32 10=100
Early July, 2003 60 29 11=100
June, 2003 62 27 11=100
May, 2003 65 27 8=100
April 10-16, 2003 72 22 6=100
April 9, 2003 74 20 6=100
April 2-7, 2003 69 25 6=100
March 28-April 1, 2003 71 23 6=100
March 25-27, 2003 70 24 6=100
March 20-24, 2003 67 26 7=100
March 13-16, 2003 55 34 11=100
February, 2003 54 36 10=100
January, 2003 58 32 10=100
2002
December, 2002 61 28 11=100
Late October, 2002 59 29 12=100
Early October, 2002 61 30 9=100
Mid-September, 2002 67 22 11=100
Early September, 2002 63 26 11=100
Late August, 2002 60 27 13=100
August, 2002 67 21 12=100
Late July, 2002 65 25 10=100
July, 2002 67 21 12=100
June, 2002 70 20 10=100
April, 2002 69 18 13=100
Early April, 2002 74 16 10=100
February, 2002 78 13 9=100
January, 2002 80 11 9=100
2001
Mid-November, 2001 84 9 7=100
Early October, 2001 84 8 8=100
Late September, 2001 86 7 7=100
Mid-September, 2001 80 9 11=100
Early September, 2001 51 34 15=100
August, 2001 50 32 18=100
July, 2001 51 32 17=100
June, 2001 50 33 17=100
May, 2001 53 32 15=100
April, 2001 56 27 17=100
March, 2001 55 25 20=100
February, 2001 53 21 26=100
Q.2 All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country today?
Sat- Dis- No
isfied satisfied Opinion
July, 2005 35 58 7=100
Late May, 2005 39 57 4=100
February, 2005 38 56 6=100
January, 2005 40 54 6=100
December, 2004 39 54 7=100
Mid-October, 2004 36 58 6=100
July, 2004 38 55 7=100
May, 2004 33 61 6=100
Late February, 2004 39 55 6=100
Early January, 2004 45 48 7=100
December, 2003 44 47 9=100
October, 2003 38 56 6=100
August, 2003 40 53 7=100
April, 2003 50 41 9=100
January, 2003 44 50 6=100
November, 2002 41 48 11=100
September, 2002 41 55 4=100
Late August, 2002 47 44 9=100
May, 2002 44 44 12=100
March, 2002 50 40 10=100
Late September, 2001 57 34 9=100
Early September, 2001 41 53 6=100
June, 2001 43 52 5=100
March, 2001 47 45 8=100
February, 2001 46 43 11=100
January, 2001 55 41 4=100
October, 2000 (RV's) 54 39 7=100
September, 2000 51 41 8=100
June, 2000 47 45 8=100
April, 2000 48 43 9=100
August, 1999 56 39 5=100
January, 1999 53 41 6=100
November, 1998 46 44 10=100
Early September, 1998 54 42 4=100
Late August, 1998 55 41 4=100
Early August, 1998 50 44 6=100
February, 1998 59 37 4=100
January, 1998 46 50 4=100
September, 1997 45 49 6=100
August, 1997 49 46 5=100
January, 1997 38 58 4=100
July, 1996 29 67 4=100
March, 1996 28 70 2=100
October, 1995 23 73 4=100
June, 1995 25 73 2=100
April, 1995 23 74 3=100
July, 1994 24 73 3=100
March, 1994 24 71 5=100
October, 1993 22 73 5=100
September, 1993 20 75 4=100
May, 1993 22 71 7=100
January, 1993 39 50 11=100
January, 1992 28 68 4=100
November, 1991 34 61 5=100
Late Feb, 1991 (Gallup) 66 31 3=100
August, 1990 47 48 5=100
May, 1990 41 54 5=100
January, 1989 45 50 5=100
September, 1988 (RVs) 50 45 5=100
May, 1988 41 54 5=100
January, 1988 39 55 6=100
Q.3 I'd like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in this country today. All in all, do you
strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose [READ AND RANDOMIZE; OBSERVE FORM
SPLITS] Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose [NEXT ITEM]?
------ FAVOR ------ ----- OPPOSE -------
Strongly Strongly Don't
Net Favor Favor Net Oppose Oppose know
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1000]:
c.F1 Allowing churches and other houses of worship
to apply, along with other organizations, for
government funding to provide social services
such as job training or drug treatment
counseling to people who need them 66 25 41 30 8 22 4=100
February, 2004 69 28 41 29 10 19 2=100
March, 2002 70 26 44 27 9 18 3=100
June, 2001 72 30 42 25 10 15 3=100
March, 2001 75 30 45 21 8 13 4=100
February, 2001 64 28 36 30 11 19 6=100
September, 2000* (RVs) 67 32 35 29 12 17 4=100
* Based on registered voters. Item was worded: "Allowing religious organizations to apply, along with other organizations,
for government funding to provide social services such as job training or drug treatment counseling to people who need them."
d.F1 The U.S. government guaranteeing health
insurance for all citizens, even if it means
raising taxes 64 25 39 30 10 20 6=100
December, 2004 65 31 34 30 10 20 5=100
Early September, 2004 66 30 36 26 11 15 8=100
August, 2003 67 23 44 29 10 19 4=100
e.F1 Passing a constitutional amendment that would
allow federal and state governments to make
flag burning illegal 54 29 25 38 15 23 8=100
October, 1989 65 -- -- 31 -- -- 4=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
h.F2 Providing more generous government assistance
to the poor 69 29 40 25 6 19 6=100
December, 2003 71 30 41 24 6 18 5=100
March, 2002 68 24 44 27 5 22 5=100
March, 2001 73 28 45 23 6 17 4=100
i.F2 Allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly
in the military 58 15 43 32 15 17 10=100
July, 1994 52 16 36 45 26 19 3=100
j.F2 Taking some of the federal funds spent on
government anti-poverty programs and
giving them to religious groups to provide
social services 33 6 27 58 21 37 9=100
NO QUESTION 4 OR 5
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.6F1 In the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, which side do you sympathize with more, Israel or the
Palestinians?
Both Neither Don't know
Israel Palestinians (VOL.) (VOL.) Refused
July, 2005 37 12 5 19 27=100
July, 2004 40 13 7 18 22=100
Late February, 2004 46 12 8 15 19=100
Mid-July, 2003 41 13 8 18 20=100
April, 2002 41 13 6 21 19=100
Mid-October, 2001 47 10 8 18 17=100
Early September, 2001 40 17 6 23 14=100
September, 1997 48 13 5 16 18=100
September, 1993 45 21 3 18 12=100
Chicago CFR 1990 34 13 7 26 20=100
Chicago CFR 1978 38 12 8 15 13=100
ASK IF 1-4 IN Q.6F1 [N=742]:
Q.7F1 Which one of the following has had the biggest influence on your thinking on this issue (READ IN
ORDER)*
Mid-July
2003
9 A personal experience 8
6 The views of your friends and family 4
30 What you have seen or read in the media 33
22 Your religious beliefs 20
17 Your education 21
12 OR Something else 10
4 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 4
100 100
* In 2003, the order in which response options 1-5 were read was randomized for each respondent.
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.8F2 Thinking about the Mideast situation these days, do you think the U.S. should take Israel's side more, less
or about as much as it has in the past?
Jan Jan Oct 15-21
2003 2002 2001
16 More 17 22 16
22 Less 19 14 19
47 As much as in the past 54 53 56
15 Don't know/Refused 10 11 9
100 100 100 100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.9XF1 Now I'd like your views on some people. (First,) would you say your overall opinion of [INSERT
ITEM; RANDOMIZE] is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly UNfavorable, or very unfavorable?
[INTERVIEWERS: PROBE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN "NEVER HEARD OF" AND "CAN'T RATE."]
(VOL) (VOL)
-------Favorable------ -----Unfavorable----- Never Can't
Total Very Mostly Total Very Mostly Heard of Rate/Ref
a.F1 George W. Bush 51 22 29 46 25 21 0 3=100
Late March, 2005 53 23 30 45 27 18 0 2=100
Mid-October, 2004 (RVs) 56 26 30 42 23 19 * 2=100
Early October, 2004 (RVs) 57 27 30 40 20 20 0 3=100
Early September, 2004 53 27 26 43 24 19 * 3=100
September 11-14 50 25 25 46 28 18 0 4=100
September 8-10 58 30 28 40 20 20 * 2=100
August, 2004 58 31 27 41 24 17 0 1=100
June, 2004 52 21 31 45 22 23 * 3=100
Early February, 2004 55 23 32 44 26 18 0 1=100
Gallup:Jan 29 - Feb 1,2004 (GP) 52 -- -- 47 -- -- -- 1=100
Gallup:January 2-5, 2004 (GP) 65 -- -- 35 -- -- -- *=100
Gallup:October 6-8, 2003 (GP) 60 -- -- 39 -- -- -- 1=100
Gallup:June 9-10, 2003 (GP) 66 -- -- 33 -- -- -- 1=100
April, 2003 73 40 33 24 11 13 0 3=100
January, 2003 70 29 41 29 10 19 0 1=100
December, 2002 69 36 33 28 11 17 0 3=100
July, 2001 62 23 39 35 14 21 * 3=100
January, 2001 60 24 36 33 12 21 0 7=100
April, 2000 60 18 42 32 13 19 1 7=100
March, 1999 63 22 40 21 5 14 3 14=100
November, 1997 57 13 44 18 6 12 7 18=100
b.F1 Pope Benedict the sixteenth 44 10 34 11 4 7 4 41=100
June, 1996 (John Paul II) 76 28 48 13 4 9 1 10=100
May, 1990 (John Paul II) 79 31 48 11 4 7 1 9=100
May, 1987 (John Paul II) 76 28 48 14 4 10 1 9=100
c.F1 British Prime Minister Tony Blair 66 21 45 11 4 7 5 18=100
Late Feb, 2004 75 37 38 11 4 7 4 10=100
April 11-16, 2003 68 32 36 10 3 7 10 12=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.10F2 Now I'd like your opinion of some groups and organizations in the news. (First,) would you say your
overall opinion of... [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE AND ROTATE ITEMS IN BLOCKS, FIRST a
THRU c, THEN d THRU g] is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly UNfavorable, or very
unfavorable? [INTERVIEWERS: PROBE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN "NEVER HEARD OF" AND "CAN'T RATE."]
(VOL) (VOL)
-------Favorable------ -----Unfavorable----- Never Can't
Total Very Mostly Total Very Mostly Heard of Rate/Ref
a.F2 The Christian conservative
movement 42 11 31 34 13 21 8 16=100
Late March, 2005 41 15 26 34 15 19 9 16=100
March, 2002 45 10 35 29 11 18 12 15=100
March, 2001 42 9 33 31 11 20 11 16=100
b.F2 Business corporations 49 9 40 40 11 29 * 11=100
March, 2002 62 10 52 29 6 23 1 8=100
July, 2001 59 9 50 27 6 21 * 14=100
March, 2001 65 9 56 25 6 19 1 9=100
August, 1999 73 8 65 22 3 19 0 5=100
Early September, 1998 64 9 55 26 5 21 * 10=100
October, 1997 66 11 55 28 5 23 * 6=100
June, 1997 68 8 60 25 7 18 * 7=100
May, 1997 59 9 50 28 7 21 1 12=100
June, 1996 62 10 52 31 6 25 * 7=100
February, 1996 59 9 50 34 10 24 1 6=100
October, 1995 60 6 54 36 7 29 0 4=100
July, 1994 70 8 62 24 5 19 * 6=100
November, 1991 65 8 57 28 6 22 0 7=100
January, 1988 59 6 53 32 5 27 * 9=100
June, 1985 58 8 50 31 7 24 1 10=100
c.F2 The ACLU (American Civil
Liberties Union) 38 8 30 35 14 21 12 15=100
Gallup: February, 1989 52 16 36 27 10 17 4 17=100
d.F2 Congress 49 6 43 40 11 29 * 11=100
June, 2005 49 6 43 40 10 30 * 11=100
June, 2004 56 7 49 33 7 26 * 11=100
July, 2001 57 7 50 32 8 24 * 11=100
March, 2001 56 6 50 36 10 26 1 7=100
January, 2001 64 10 54 23 5 18 1 12=100
September, 2000 (RVs) 61 8 53 32 5 27 * 7=100
August, 1999 63 8 55 34 7 27 * 3=100
June, 1999 56 9 47 39 9 30 * 5=100
February, 1999 52 4 48 44 8 36 0 4=100
January, 1999 48 7 41 45 15 30 0 7=100
Early December, 1998 52 11 41 41 12 29 0 7=100
Early October, 1998 (RVs) 62 7 55 33 8 25 0 5=100
Early September, 1998 66 7 59 27 5 22 0 7=100
October, 1997 53 5 48 44 11 33 0 3=100
August, 1997 50 6 44 44 11 33 0 6=100
June, 1997 52 4 48 42 8 34 0 6=100
May, 1997 49 5 44 42 10 32 * 9=100
February, 1997 52 6 46 40 9 31 * 8=100
January, 1997 56 6 50 40 8 32 * 4=100
June, 1996 45 6 39 50 12 38 * 5=100
April, 1996 45 6 39 50 13 37 0 5=100
January, 1996 42 4 38 54 16 38 * 4=100
October, 1995 42 4 38 55 13 42 0 3=100
August, 1995 45 5 40 47 13 34 * 7=100
June, 1995 53 8 45 42 11 31 * 5=100
February, 1995 54 10 44 37 10 27 0 9=100
July, 1994 53 7 46 43 9 34 * 4=100
May, 1993 43 8 35 48 13 35 0 9=100
November, 1991 51 7 44 43 9 34 0 6=100
March, 1991 66 16 50 26 7 19 0 8=100
May, 1990 59 6 53 34 9 25 1 6=100
May, 1988 64 8 56 28 5 23 0 8=100
January, 1988 64 6 58 29 4 25 0 7=100
May, 1987 74 10 64 20 4 16 * 6=100
January, 1987 59 7 52 31 8 23 0 10=100
June, 1985 67 9 58 26 5 21 * 7=100
e.F2 The Supreme Court 61 12 49 28 10 18 * 11=100
June, 2005 57 8 49 30 8 22 * 13=100
July, 2001 70 15 55 20 6 14 * 10=100
March, 2001 72 15 57 20 5 15 * 8=100
January, 2001 68 18 50 21 8 13 1 10=100
October, 1997 77 13 64 18 6 12 * 5=100
May, 1997 72 16 56 22 5 17 0 6=100
July, 1994 80 18 62 16 3 13 * 4=100
May, 1993 73 17 56 18 4 14 0 9=100
November, 1991 72 18 54 21 5 16 0 7=100
May, 1990 65 10 55 25 7 18 1 9=100
January, 1988 79 14 65 13 2 11 * 8=100
May, 1987 76 13 63 17 2 15 * 7=100
Roper, March 1985 64 17 47 28 7 21 8=100
f.F2 The Republican Party 48 13 35 43 18 25 * 9=100
June, 2005 48 11 37 44 20 24 0 8=100
December, 2004 52 15 37 42 17 25 0 6=100
June, 2004 51 12 39 40 14 26 0 9=100
Early February, 2004 52 14 38 42 16 26 * 6=100
June, 2003 58 14 44 33 10 23 0 9=100
April, 2003 63 14 49 31 10 21 * 6=100
December, 2002 59 18 41 33 11 22 * 8=100
July, 2001 48 11 37 42 15 27 * 10=100
January, 2001 56 13 43 35 13 22 * 9=100
September, 2000 (RVs) 53 11 42 40 12 28 0 7=100
August, 1999 53 8 45 43 12 31 * 4=100
February, 1999 44 7 37 51 15 36 0 5=100
January, 1999 44 10 34 50 23 27 0 6=100
Early December, 1998 46 11 35 47 20 27 * 7=100
Early October, 1998 (RVs) 52 9 43 42 14 28 0 6=100
Early September, 1998 56 9 47 37 11 26 * 7=100
March, 1998 50 10 40 43 12 31 * 7=100
August, 1997 47 9 38 47 11 36 * 6=100
June, 1997 51 8 43 42 11 31 1 6=100
January, 1997 52 8 44 43 10 33 * 5=100
October, 1995 52 10 42 44 16 28 * 4=100
December, 1994 67 21 46 27 8 19 * 6=100
July, 1994 63 12 51 33 8 25 * 4=100
May, 1993 54 12 42 35 10 25 0 11=100
July, 1992 46 9 37 48 17 31 * 6=100
g.F2 The Democratic Party 50 15 35 41 14 27 * 9=100
June, 2005 52 12 40 39 13 26 * 9=100
December, 2004 53 13 40 41 14 27 * 6=100
June, 2004 54 12 42 36 11 25 0 10=100
Early February, 2004 58 14 44 37 9 28 * 5=100
June, 2003 54 11 43 38 10 28 0 8=100
April, 2003 57 13 44 36 11 25 * 7=100
December, 2002 54 15 39 37 10 27 * 9=100
July, 2001 58 18 40 34 10 24 * 8=100
January, 2001 60 18 42 30 9 21 1 9=100
September, 2000 (RVs) 60 16 44 35 12 23 * 5=100
August, 1999 59 14 45 37 9 28 * 4=100
February, 1999 58 11 47 37 11 26 0 5=100
January, 1999 55 14 41 38 12 26 0 7=100
Early December, 1998 59 18 41 34 10 24 0 7=100
Early October, 1998 (RVs) 56 11 45 38 9 29 * 6=100
Early September, 1998 60 13 47 33 8 25 * 7=100
March, 1998 58 15 43 36 10 26 * 6=100
August, 1997 52 11 41 42 10 32 0 6=100
June, 1997 61 10 51 33 8 25 * 6=100
January, 1997 60 13 47 35 7 28 * 5=100
October, 1995 49 9 40 48 11 37 0 3=100
December, 1994 50 13 37 44 13 31 * 6=100
July, 1994 62 13 49 34 7 27 * 4=100
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