Hot Topics
Survey Reports
August 30, 2005
Religion A Strength And Weakness For Both Parties
Questionnaire Part 2
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
On a different subject
Q.11F2 In your opinion, should churches and other houses of worship keep out of political matters or should
they express their views on day-to-day social and political questions?
August Mid-July March Sept* June Gallup
2004 2003 2001 2000 1996 Feb 1968 March 1957
44 Should keep out 44 44 43 45 43 53 44
51 Should express views 51 52 51 51 54 40 48
5 No opinion 5 4 6 4 3 7 8
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
* September 2000 results are based on registered voters. In 2000 and earlier, the question did not include
“and other houses of worship.”
Q.12F2 Do you think it is ever right for clergy to discuss political candidates or issues from the pulpit?
Gallup
March Sept June Nov
2001 2000* 1996 1965
31 Yes 28 32 29 22
63 No 65 64 66 68
6 Don't know/refused 7 4 5 10
100 100 100 100 100
* September 2000 results are based on registered voters.
ASK FORM 2A ONLY [N=499]:
Q.13F2A Do you think there has been too much, too little or the right amount of expressions of religious faith and
prayer by political leaders?
August Mid-July March Early Oct
2004 2003 2002* 2001
26 Too much 27 21 16 12
39 Too little 31 41 24 22
27 Right amount 32 29 53 60
8 Don't know/Refused 10 9 7 6
100 100 100 100 100
* In March 2002 the question was worded, “Since September 11th, has there been too much, too little or the right amount
of expressions of religious faith and prayer by political leaders?” In Early October 2001 the question was part of a
series and began, “As I read from a list, tell me if you think there has been too much, too little or the right amount
of what I mention.”
ASK FORM 2B ONLY [N=501]:
Q.14F2B Do you think George W. Bush mentions his religious faith and prayer too much, too little, or about the
right amount?
August Mid-July
2004 2003
28 Too much 24 14
10 Too little 11 11
52 About the right amount 53 62
10 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 12 13
100 100 100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.15F2 These days, how much do you think churches, synagogues and other houses of worship contribute to
solving important social problems... a great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all?
March Sept
2001 2000*
20 A great deal 23 28
46 Some 52 44
23 Not much 18 21
7 Nothing at all 4 4
4 Don't know/Refused 3 3
100 100 100
* Based on registered voters. Question was worded: "These days, how much do you think churches, synagogues and mosques
contribute to solving important social problems... a great deal, some, not much, nothing at all?"
Q.16F2 Do you feel that [INSERT ITEM AND RANDOMIZE] is generally friendly toward religion, neutral
toward religion, or unfriendly toward religion?
Don't Know/
Friendly Neutral Unfriendly Refused (VOL)
a.F2 The Democratic party 29 38 20 13=100
August, 2004 40 34 13 13=100
Mid-July, 2003 42 36 12 10=100
b.F2 The Republican party 55 23 9 13=100
August, 2004 52 24 10 14=100
Mid-July, 2003 52 27 10 11=100
Q.17F2 Here are a couple of statements about the political parties. For each, please tell me if you completely agree,
mostly agree, mostly DISagree, or completely DISagree with it. (The first one is...) (INSERT ITEM;
ROTATE ITEMS)
------ AGREE ----- ---- DISAGREE ---- Don't know/
Total Completely Mostly Total Completely Mostly Refused
a.F2 Religious conservatives have too much
control over the Republican Party. 45 14 31 43 11 32 12=100
Early September, 2004* 43 17 26 48 18 30 9=100
* In 2004, this question was asked only of registered voters, and was asked as part of a list. The question read,
“Here are some statements about the candidates and political parties.
b.F2 Liberals who are not religious have too
much control over the Democratic Party. 44 12 32 42 11 31 14=100
Q.18F2 Thinking about the two major political parties in this country, which one would you say is most concerned
with [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]... the Republicans or the Democrats? (ROTATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS)
And which party would you say is most concerned with [NEXT ITEM] the Republicans or the Democrats?
(ROTATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS)
(VOL.)
(VOL.) Both Don't know/
Republicans Democrats Neither equally Refused
a.F2 Protecting religious values 51 28 5 5 11=100
b.F2 Protecting the freedom of citizens to
make personal choices 30 52 7 4 7=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1000]:
ROTATE Q.19F1 AND Q.20F1
Q.19F1 Do you think that Conservative Christians have gone too far in trying to impose their religious values on the
country, or don't you think Conservative Christians have gone too far?
45 Yes, think that Conservative Christians have gone too far
45 No, don't think that Conservative Christians have gone too far
10 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.20F1 Do you think that liberals have gone too far in trying to keep religion out of the schools and the
government, or don't you think liberals have gone too far?
67 Yes, think that liberals have gone too far
28 No, don't think that liberals have gone too far
5 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.21F1 Which of these kinds of issues are more important in the United States today, [READ OPTIONS AND
ROTATE]?
18 Issues like abortion and gay marriage, OR
72 Issues like poverty and homelessness
7 Both (VOL.)
1 Neither (VOL.)
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.22F1 Do you agree or disagree that the U.S. and other Western powers have a moral obligation to use military
force if necessary, to prevent one group of people from committing genocide against another?
March 2001*
69 Agree 74
21 Disagree 17
10 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 9
100 100
* In 2001, the question read “Do you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly DISagree, or completely disagree that,
in the future, the U.S. and other Western powers have a moral obligation to use military force if necessary,
to prevent one group of people from committing genocide against another?”
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
Q.23F2 In your opinion, should the United States work to promote democracy around the world, or shouldn't the
United States do this?
60 Yes, should work to promote democracy
31 No, shouldn't work to promote democracy
9 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
ASK ALL:
On another subject
Q.25 Which of the following statements comes closest to your belief about God You believe in God, OR You
don't believe in God, but you do believe in a universal spirit or higher power, OR You don't believe in
either?
IF 1 in Q.25, ASK:
Q.26a Do you think that God was responsible for the creation of life on earth, or don't you believe this?
IF 2 IN Q.25, ASK:
Q.26b Do you think that a universal spirit or higher power was responsible for the creation of life on earth, or
don't you believe this?
Gallup
May 2004
85 You believe in God 81
78 Yes, believe God was responsible -
5 No, don't believe this -
2 Don't know/refused (VOL.) -
11 You don't believe in God, but do believe in a universal spirit/higher power 13
5 Yes, believe universal spirit/higher power was responsible -
5 No, don't believe this -
1 Don't know/refused (VOL.) -
3 You don't believe in either 5
* Other (VOL.) *
1 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 1
100 100
Q.27F1/
28F2 Some people think that humans and other living things [have evolved over time]. Others think that humans
and other living things [have existed in their present form since the beginning of time]. Which of these comes
closest to your view? [ROTATE STATEMENTS]
48 Evolved over time
42 Existed in their present form since the beginning of time
10 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF EVOLVED in Q.27F1 or Q.28F2, ASK [N=973]:
Q.29 And do you think that [READ OPTIONS AND ROTATE]?
26 Humans and other living things have evolved due to natural processes such as natural selection,
OR
18 A supreme being guided the evolution of living things for the purpose of creating humans and
other life in the form it exists today
4 Don't know/refused (VOL./ DO NOT READ)
48
ASK ALL:
Q.30 How certain are you about how life developed on Earth very certain, fairly certain, not too certain, or
not at all certain?
46 Very certain
31 Fairly certain
12 Not too certain
9 Not at all certain
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.31 Which one of the following has had the biggest influence on your thinking about how life developed...
(READ IN ORDER)
12 A personal experience
5 The views of your friends and family
3 What you have seen or read in the media
42 Your religious beliefs
28 Your education
7 OR Something else (ALWAYS END WITH THIS)
3 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.32 From what you've heard or read, is there general agreement among scientists that humans evolved over
time, or not?
54 Yes, there is agreement among scientists that humans evolved over time
33 No, there is not agreement among scientists that humans evolved over time
13 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
ASK ALL:
Now, a few questions about your religious affiliation.
Q.33 What is your religious preference do you consider yourself Christian, Jewish, Muslim, other non-
Christian such as Buddhist or Hindu, atheist, agnostic, something else, or don't you have a religious
preference?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996*
81 Christian 81 82 82 84
2 Jewish 2 1 1 1
* Muslim * * 1 *
1 Other non-Christian 4 1 2 3
1 Atheist 2 1 1 n/a
2 Agnostic 3 2 2 n/a
2 Something else (SPECIFY) 1 2 1 n/a
11 No preference 6 10 8 11
* Don't know/Refused 1 1 2 1
100 100 100 100 100
* In 1996, question was worded: “What is your religious preference – do you consider yourself Christian, Jewish,
Muslim, other non-Christian, or don’t you have a religious preference?”
IF CHRISTIAN IN Q.33, ASK:
Q.34 Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, or
something else?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996
50 Protestant 52 52 53 54
22 Roman Catholic 23 24 23 23
1 Mormon 1 2 2 2
1 Orthodox * * 1 1
6 Something else (SPECIFY) 1 2 * 1
- Not practicing any religion - - - 1
1 Don't know/Refused 4 2 3 2
81% Christian 81% 82% 82% 84%
IF 1 "PROTESTANT" OR 5 "SOMETHING ELSE" IN Q.34, ASK:
Q.35 As I read a list, tell me which if any of these denominations you are affiliated with. (READ LIST)
March 2001 June 1996
19 Baptist 17 18
7 Methodist 8 10
5 Lutheran 5 6
3 Presbyterian 3 4
2 Congregational or United Church of Christ 3 3
7 Nondenominational or Independent Church 6 5
4 Pentecostal 5 3
2 Episcopalian 2 2
* Reformed, or * *
5 Something else (SPECIFY) 3 2
2 Nothing in particular (DO NOT READ) 1 1
* Don't Know/Refused (DO NOT READ) 1 *
56% Protestant/Something else 54% 54%
IF 1 "CHRISTIAN" OR 7 "SOMETHING ELSE" in Q33, ASK]:
Q.36 Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian, or not?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996
36 Yes 37 35 36 34
40 No 41 44 43 47
4 Don't Know/Refused 4 5 4 3
3 Undesignated* n/a n/a n/a n/a
83% Christian/Something else 82% 84% 83% 84%
* Due to a programming error, on the first night of interviewing this question was asked only of those who answered
“Something else” in the initial religious preference question or “Protestant” in the first Christian followup question,
rather than of all Christians.
IF CHRISTIAN (Q.33=1), ASK [N=1636]:
Q.37 As I read from a list, please tell me which if any of the following descriptions apply to you. (First,)
(INSERT, ROTATE)... does this apply to you, or not?
Don't know/
Yes No Refused
a. Pentecostal Christian 14 79 7=100
b. Charismatic or Spirit-Filled Christian 38 57 5=100
c. Liberal or Progressive Christian 37 55 8=100
ASK ALL:
Q.38 Aside from weddings and funerals how often do you attend religious services... more than once a week,
once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, seldom, or never?
Aug Jul Mar Mar Mid-Nov Mar Sep Jun Jun
2004 2003 2003 2002 2001 2001 2000 1997 1996
14 More than once a week 13 16 15 15 16 17 17 12 14
27 Once a week 25 27 24 25 26 26 28 26 25
14 Once or twice a month 15 15 15 17 14 17 16 17 17
19 A few times a year 20 18 21 18 17 17 17 20 21
14 Seldom 15 14 15 15 16 15 13 15 13
11 Never 11 10 9 9 10 7 8 10 9
1 Don't know/Refused 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 * 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.39 How important would you say religion is in your own life very important, fairly important, or not very
important?
Very Fairly Not very Don't know/
Important Important Important Refused
July, 2005 60 25 14 1=100
August, 2004 57 26 16 1=100
October, 2003 62 24 13 1=100
Mid-July, 2003 61 24 14 1=100
December, 2002 60 27 12 1=100
March, 2002 63 24 12 1=100
Mid-November, 2001 61 24 14 1=100
March, 2001 64 23 12 1=100
March, 2000 (Gallup) 61 27 12 *=100
June, 1998 (Gallup) 62 25 12 1=100
June, 1996 59 26 15 *=100
March, 1994 (Gallup) 59 29 11 1=100
March, 1988 (Gallup) 54 31 14 1=100
March, 1984 (Gallup) 56 30 13 1=100
April, 1978 (Gallup) 52 32 14 2=100
November, 1965 (Gallup) 70 22 7 1=100
Q.40 Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings about the Bible? [READ, IN ORDER]
March Mid-July March June
2004* 2003 2001 1996
36 The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be 40 35 36 35
taken literally, word for word, OR
40 The Bible is the word of God, but not everything 42 43 43 47
in it should be taken literally, word for word, OR
18 The Bible is a book written by men and is not 13 16 14 14
the word of God.
2 Other (VOL.) 1 2 3 2
4 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 4 4 4 2
100 100 100 100 100
* In 2004 and 2003, the response categories were read in reverse order to half of the samples.
ASK ALL:
Q.51 I'd like to get your impression of how the public schools in your area are dealing with a few topics. First,
[INSERT ITEM AND RANDOMIZE]? Do the public schools in your area do an excellent job, a good
job, only a fair job, or a poor job of dealing with [READ]? Next, what about [INSERT ITEM AND
RANDOMIZE]? Do the public schools in your area do an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job, or a
poor job of dealing with [READ]?...
Excellent Good Fair Poor DK/Ref (VOL)
a. Religion 4 15 22 32 27=100
b. Sex education 6 24 25 19 26=100
c. Homosexuality 2 12 21 29 36=100
d. Evolution 4 20 27 17 32=100
SCHOOL Did you have any children living in your household who were enrolled in kindergarten through 12th
grade this past year?
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
SCHOOL2 How many?
29 Yes
13 One
16 More than one
0 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
71 No
* Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
[INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 2 'MORE THAN ONE' IN SCHOOL2 ASK: Do your
children attend a public school, or a private school?]
Q.52 Does your child attend a public school, or private school?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
85 Public
12 Private
2 Both one child/children in public and one child/children in private school (VOL.)
1 Neither/Home school (VOL)
* Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 2,3 IN Q.52, ASK:
Q.53 Is this a religious or church affiliated school, or not?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
9 Yes, religious or church affiliated school
5 No, not religious affiliated
85 Children attend public school
1 Other/home schooled (VOL.)
* Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
[INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 2 'MORE THAN ONE' IN SCHOOL2, ASK: Have any
of your children ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of religion came up at school, or not?]
Q.54 Has your child ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of religion came up at school, or
not?
IF YES IN Q.54, ASK:
Q.55 Has this happened often, or not?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
5 Yes, has mentioned feeling uncomfortable
2 Yes, has happened often
3 No, not often
0 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
91 No, hasn't mentioned feeling uncomfortable
3 Did not come up/Not applicable (VOL.)
1 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
[INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 2 'MORE THAN ONE' IN SCHOOL2, ASK: As far as
you know, are there Bible study groups, prayer groups, or other religious groups at your children's school for
students to participate in, or aren't there any groups like this at your children's school?]
Q.56 As far as you know, are there Bible study groups, prayer groups, or other religious groups at your child's
school for students to participate in, or aren't there any groups like this at your child's school?
IF 1 IN Q.56, ASK:
Q.57 As far as you know, do teachers invite or encourage students to participate in these groups, or doesn't this
happen?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
26 Yes, are religious groups
13 Yes, teachers encourage participation in groups
11 No teacher encouragement
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
64 No, aren't religious groups
10 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
[INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 2 'MORE THAN ONE' IN SCHOOL2, ASK: Have any
of your children ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of homosexuality came up at school, or
not?]
Q.58 Has your child ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of homosexuality came up at
school, or not?
IF YES IN Q.58, ASK:
Q.59 Has this happened often, or not?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
8 Yes, has mentioned feeling uncomfortable
2 Yes, has happened often
6 No, not often
0 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
80 No, hasn't mentioned feeling uncomfortable
11 Did not come up/Not applicable (VOL.)
1 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
IF 1 IN SCHOOL, ASK:
[INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED 2 'MORE THAN ONE' IN SCHOOL2, ASK: Have any
of your children ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of evolution came up at school, or not?]
Q.60 Has your child ever mentioned feeling uncomfortable when the subject of evolution came up at school, or
not?
IF YES IN Q.60, ASK:
Q.61 Has this happened often, or not?
BASED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL [N=554]:
6 Yes, has mentioned feeling uncomfortable
1 Yes, has happened often
5 No, not often
0 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
86 No, hasn't mentioned feeling uncomfortable
7 Did not come up/Not applicable (VOL.)
1 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
ASK ALL:
Q.62 I'd like to get your views on who should and who should not have a say on how evolution is taught in
public schools. In your opinion, should [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE] have a say in how evolution is
addressed, or should they not have a say?
Should Should not Don't know/
have a say have a say Refused
a. Scientists and science teachers 70 24 6=100
b. Parents 79 17 4=100
c. School boards 59 34 7=100
Q.63 And who should have the PRIMARY responsibility for deciding how evolution is taught in public schools?
Should it be [RANDOMIZE AND READ]
28 Scientists and science teachers
41 Parents
21 School boards
10 Don't know/refused [DO NOT READ]
100
And what's your view,
ROTATE QUESTIONS Q.64 AND Q.65
Q.64 Would you generally favor or oppose teaching creationism ALONG WITH evolution in public schools?
March CBS/NY Times
2005 Nov 2004*
64 Favor 57 65
26 Oppose 33 29
10 Don't know/Refused 10 6
100 100 100
* CBS/New York Times question asked about ‘creation” instead of “creationism” in Q.64 only.
Q.65 Would you generally favor or oppose teaching creationism INSTEAD OF evolution in public schools?
March CBS/NY Times
2005 Nov 2004
38 Favor 33 37
49 Oppose 54 51
13 Don't know/Refused 13 12
100 100 100
Now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only...
PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?
(VOL) (VOL)
No Other
Trend Republican Democrat Independent Preference Party Don't know
July, 2005 32 32 28 5 * 3=100
June, 2005 30 32 32 4 * 2=100
May, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
March, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
February, 2005 31 32 30 4 1 2=100
January, 2005 32 33 30 4 * 1=100
December, 2004 31 34 30 3 * 2=100
Mid-October, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Late September, 2004 29 30 31 6 * 4=100
Mid-September, 2004 29 31 30 5 * 5=100
Early September, 2004 30 33 31 3 * 3=100
August, 2004 31 35 27 4 * 3=100
July, 2004 29 33 32 3 * 3=100
June, 2004 30 34 31 3 * 2=100
May, 2004 29 35 26 5 1 4=100
Early May, 2004 27 34 31 4 1 3=100
Late April, 2004 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
Early April, 2004 31 32 28 4 1 4=100
Late March, 2004 30 34 28 4 * 4=100
March, 2004 27 35 32 4 * 2=100
Mid-February, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Early February, 2004 31 33 31 3 * 2=100
Mid-January, 2004 31 31 31 4 1 2=100
Early January, 2004 29 34 31 4 * 2=100
Yearly Totals
2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
2003 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
2002 30 31 30 5 1 3=100
2001 29 34 29 5 * 3=100
2001 Post-Sept 11 31 32 28 5 1 3=100
2001 Pre-Sept 11 28 35 30 5 * 2=100
2000 28 33 29 6 * 4=100
1999 27 33 34 4 * 2=100
1998 28 33 32 5 * 2=100
1997 28 33 32 4 1 2=100
No Preference/
Other/DK
1996 29 33 33 5=100
1995 32 30 34 4=100
1994 30 32 34 4=100
1993 27 34 34 5=100
1992 28 33 35 4=100
1991 31 32 33 4=100
1990 31 33 30 6=100
Independent/
No Pref/Oth/DK
1989 33 33 34=100
1987 26 35 39=100
(All party identification trends based on general public.)
IF ANSWERED 3, 4, 5 OR 9 IN PARTY, ASK:
PARTYLN As of today do you lean more to the Republican Party or more to the Democratic Party?
Refused
Republican Democrat to lean
July, 2005 10 14 12=36%
June, 2005 10 16 12=38%
Mid-May, 2005 9 13 14=36%
Late March, 2005 13 17 9=39%
December, 2004 14 12 9=35%
August, 2003 12 16 14=42%
August, 2002 12 13 13=38%
September, 2000 11 13 15=39%
Late September, 1999 14 15 16=45%
August, 1999 15 15 12=42%
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