GOD AND SOCIETY IN NORTH AMERICA, 1996
A 1996 survey of religion, politics and social involvement in Canada and the United States.
Sample size: 6023, evenly divided between Canada and U.S.A.
Click here for description and complete data
(American Religion Data Archive)
Selected questions (on religious beliefs):
152) BELIEF1
I would like to read you some statements that people have made about their personal religious beliefs. No matter how you answer the questions, you can be sure that many people feel the same way. As I read each statement, please tell me whether you agree or disagree, moderately or strongly. -- The concept of God is an old superstition that is no longer needed to explain things in these modern times.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 3788 62.9 2) Disagree 1160 19.3 3) Don't know 152 2.5 4) Agree 524 8.7 5) Strongly agree 399 6.6 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
153) BELIEF2
Human beings are not special creatures made in the image of God, they are simply a recent development in the process of animal evolution.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 2918 48.4 2) Disagree 1002 16.6 3) Don't know 294 4.9 4) Agree 970 16.1 5) Strongly agree 839 13.9 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
154) BELIEF3
I feel that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God provided a way for the forgiveness of my sins.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 781 13.0 2) Disagree 525 8.7 3) Don't know 244 4.1 4) Agree 1255 20.8 5) Strongly agree 3218 53.4 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
155) BELIEF4
In my view, Jesus Christ was not the divine son of God.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 3721 61.8 2) Disagree 960 15.9 3) Don't know 429 7.1 4) Agree 465 7.7 5) Strongly agree 448 7.4 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
156) BELIEF5
I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 657 10.9 2) Disagree 695 11.5 3) Don't know 173 2.9 4) Agree 1543 25.6 5) Strongly agree 2955 49.1 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
157) BELIEF6
I feel the Bible is God's word, and is to be taken literally, word for word.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 2003 33.3 2) Disagree 1399 23.2 3) Don't know 124 2.1 4) Agree 1047 17.4 5) Strongly agree 1450 24.1 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
158) BELIEF7
I have committed my life to Christ and consider myself to be a converted Christian.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 1721 28.6 2) Disagree 1171 19.4 3) Don't know 220 3.7 4) Agree 1142 19.0 5) Strongly agree 1769 29.4 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
159) BELIEF8
I feel it is very important to encourage non-Christians to become Christians.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 2146 35.6 2) Disagree 1310 21.7 3) Don't know 136 2.3 4) Agree 1041 17.3 5) Strongly agree 1390 23.1 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
160) BELIEF9
I don't think you need to go to church in order to be a good Christian.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 740 12.3 2) Disagree 647 10.7 3) Don't know 92 1.5 4) Agree 1568 26.0 5) Strongly agree 2976 49.4 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
161) BELIEF10
All the great religions of the world are equally good and true.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 1358 22.5 2) Disagree 851 14.1 3) Don't know 190 3.2 4) Agree 1682 27.9 5) Strongly agree 1942 32.2 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
162) BELIEF11
The world will end in a battle in Armageddon between Jesus and the Antichrist.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 2638 43.8 2) Disagree 913 15.2 3) Don't know 661 11.0 4) Agree 674 11.2 5) Strongly agree 1137 18.9 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
163) BELIEF12
I want to live a spiritual life, more than I want to be rich.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 529 8.8 2) Disagree 895 14.9 3) Don't know 211 3.5 4) Agree 1790 29.7 5) Strongly agree 2598 43.1 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
164) BELIEF13
Christians should get involved in politics to protect their values.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 1397 23.2 2) Disagree 1144 19.0 3) Don't know 146 2.4 4) Agree 1795 29.8 5) Strongly agree 1541 25.6 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
165) BELIEF14
My private beliefs about Christianity are more important than what is taught by any church.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 597 9.9 2) Disagree 929 15.4 3) Don't know 224 3.7 4) Agree 1469 24.4 5) Strongly agree 2804 46.6 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
166) BELIEF15
People who love God and work hard will always have enough money.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 2333 38.7 2) Disagree 1552 25.8 3) Don't know 150 2.5 4) Agree 983 16.3 5) Strongly agree 1005 16.7 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
167) BELIEF16
I feel that churches put too much emphasis on asking for money.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 811 13.5 2) Disagree 1522 25.3 3) Don't know 221 3.7 4) Agree 1694 28.1 5) Strongly agree 1775 29.5 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
168) BELIEF17
Churches and religious organizations should spend more money on helping the poor.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 186 3.1 2) Disagree 579 9.6 3) Don't know 143 2.4 4) Agree 2000 33.2 5) Strongly agree 3115 51.7 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
169) BELIEF18
If churches and other religious groups find that they have received money that has been obtained through crime or illegal business practices, they should give the money back.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 448 7.4 2) Disagree 503 8.4 3) Don't know 173 2.9 4) Agree 812 13.5 5) Strongly agree 4087 67.9 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
170) BELIEF19
Strict rules to protect the environment are necessary, even if they raise prices or cost jobs.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 677 11.2 2) Disagree 1061 17.6 3) Don't know 102 1.7 4) Agree 2093 34.8 5) Strongly agree 2090 34.7 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
171) BELIEF20
Homosexuals should have the same rights as other (Canadians/Americans.)
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 1296 21.5 2) Disagree 639 10.6 3) Don't know 195 3.2 4) Agree 1589 26.4 5) Strongly agree 2304 38.3 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
172) BELIEF21
Any governmental regulation of abortion is an infringement upon the rights of women.
TOTAL % 1) Strongly disagree 1093 18.1 2) Disagree 953 15.8 3) Don't know 244 4.1 4) Agree 1166 19.4 5) Strongly agree 2567 42.6 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
173) RELIMPRT
Do you consider religion to be an important part of your life or not?
TOTAL % 1) Yes, do 4166 69.2 2) No, do not 1798 29.9 3) Don't know 59 1.0 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
174) RELGDNCE
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO CONSIDER RELIGION TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR LIFE: Would you say religion provides none, some, quite a bit, or a great deal of guidance in your day-to-day life?
TOTAL % 1) None 44 1.1 2) Some 1236 29.7 3) Quite a bit 1125 27.0 4) A great deal 1749 42.0 5) Don't know 12 0.3 Missing 2334
TOTAL 4166 100.0
175) ATTNDCH
Other than on special occasions, such as weddings, funerals or baptisms, how often did you attend religious services or meetings in the last 12 months?
TOTAL % 1) More than once a week 760 12.6 2) Once a week 1031 17.1 3) A few times a month 754 12.5 4) Once a month 363 6.0 5) A few times a year 1102 18.3 6) At least once a year 495 8.2 7) Not at all 1489 24.7 8) Don't know 29 0.5 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
176) PRAY
How often do you -- Pray outside of formal religious services
TOTAL % 1) Once a day or more 2749 45.6 2) Once a week or more 802 13.3 3) Once a month or more 236 3.9 4) Occasionally 1232 20.5 5) Never 942 15.6 6) Don't know 62 1.0 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
177) READBBLE
How often do you -- Read the Bible or other religious material
TOTAL % 1) Once a day or more 858 14.2 2) Once a week or more 1052 17.5 3) Once a month or more 471 7.8 4) Occasionally 2105 34.9 5) Never 1498 24.9 6) Don't know 39 0.6 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
178) BELIEFCH
Next, on a scale where 1 mean that "churches should concentrate on personal spirituality" and 5 means that "churches should concentrate on social justice," where would you place your beliefs about what churches should do?
TOTAL % 1) Churches should concentrate on personal spirituality 1407 23.4 2) 821 13.6 3) 2110 35.0 4) 690 11.5 5) Churches should concentrate on social justice 748 12.4 6) Don't know 247 4.1 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
179) REL_PLTC
On a scale where 1 means that "your religion is not at all important to your political thinking" and 5 means that "your religion is very important to your political thinking," where would you place yourself?
TOTAL % 1) Your religion is not at all important to your political thinking 2097 34.8 2) 811 13.5 3) 1177 19.5 4) 669 11.1 5) Your religion is very important to your political thinking 1166 19.4 6) Don't know 103 1.7 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
180) VT4EVANG
If a (Canada: party leader and potential prime minister/U.S.: presidential candidate) belongs to a political party you like and has many views which you like, would you be willing to vote for (Canada: their party/U.S.: such a person) if the person is -- An Evangelical
TOTAL % 1) Yes 4755 78.9 2) No 923 15.3 3) Don't know 345 5.7 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
181) VT4ATHST
If a (Canada: party leader and potential prime minister/U.S.: presidential candidate) belongs to a political party you like and has many views which you like, would you be willing to vote for (Canada: their party/U.S.: such a person) if the person is -- An atheist and does not believe in God
TOTAL % 1) Yes 3449 57.3 2) No 2373 39.4 3) Don't know 201 3.3 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
182) VT4MUSLM
If a (Canada: party leader and potential prime minister/U.S.: presidential candidate) belongs to a political party you like and has many views which you like, would you be willing to vote for (Canada: their party/U.S.: such a person) if the person is -- A Muslim
TOTAL % 1) Yes 4064 67.5 2) No 1612 26.8 3) Don't know 347 5.8 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
183) CHRSPK1
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Candidates and elections
TOTAL % 1) Yes 808 20.1 2) No 3048 76.0 3) Don't know 154 3.8 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
184) CHRSPK2
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Welfare and unemployment
TOTAL % 1) Yes 2037 50.8 2) No 1784 44.5 3) Don't know 189 4.7 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
185) CHRSPK3
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Abortion and sexual behavior
TOTAL % 1) Yes 2517 62.8 2) No 1325 33.0 3) Don't know 168 4.2 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
186) CHRSPK4
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Using your money in a Christian manner
TOTAL % 1) Yes 2550 63.6 2) No 1263 31.5 3) Don't know 197 4.9 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
187) CHRSPK5
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Social justice issues like poverty or civil rights
TOTAL % 1) Yes 2926 73.0 2) No 923 23.0 3) Don't know 161 4.0 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
188) CHRSPK6
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ATTEND CHURCH A FEW TIMES A YEAR OR MORE OFTEN: Please tell me whether the clergy in your church or place of worship speaks out on -- Giving money to the church
TOTAL % 1) Yes 3033 75.6 2) No 867 21.6 3) Don't know 110 2.7 Missing 2490
TOTAL 4010 100.0
189) RELIGION
Do you ever think of yourself as part of a religious tradition? For example, do you consider yourself as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, other non-Christian, agnostic or atheist, nothing in particular, or something else?
TOTAL % 1) Christian 4383 72.8 2) Jewish 92 1.5 3) Muslim 22 0.4 4) Other non-Christian 59 1.0 5) Agnostic 156 2.6 6) Atheist 123 2.0 7) Nothing in particular 785 13.0 8) Something else 342 5.7 9) Don't know 61 1.0 Missing 477
TOTAL 6023 100.0
190) DENOM
ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO ARE CHRISTIAN: What specific church denomination is that?
TOTAL % 1) Adventist 22 0.5 2) Alliance 11 0.3 3) Anglican 174 4.0 4) Baptist 487 11.1 5) Brethren 6 0.1 6) Catholic 1650 37.6 7) Charismatic 5 0.1 8) Christian 70 1.6 9) Church of Christ 59 1.3 10) Church of God 19 0.4 11) Congregational 21 0.5 12) Episcopalian 54 1.2 13) Evangelical 41 0.9 14) Quakers, Friends 2 0.0 15) Fundamentalist 4 0.1 16) Holiness 3 0.1 17) Jehovah's Witnesses 24 0.5 18) Lutherans 201 4.6 19) Mennonite 33 0.8 20) Methodist 202 4.6 21) Mormon 42 1.0 22) Nondenominational 182 4.2 23) Orthodox 23 0.5 24) Pentecostal 102 2.3 25) Presbyterian 128 2.9 26) Protestant 97 2.2 27) Reformed 12 0.3 28) Unitarian/Universalist 8 0.2 29) United Church 292 6.7 30) Other 264 6.0 31) Don't know 145 3.3 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
191) CHARISMA
Do you consider yourself to be any of the following? -- A Charismatic Christian
TOTAL % 1) Yes 686 15.7 2) No 3286 75.0 3) Don't know 411 9.4 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
192) PENTECOS
Do you consider yourself to be any of the following? -- A Pentecostal Christian
TOTAL % 1) Yes 429 9.8 2) No 3700 84.4 3) Don't know 254 5.8 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
193) EVANGELI
Do you consider yourself to be any of the following? -- An Evangelical Christian
TOTAL % 1) Yes 966 22.0 2) No 3110 71.0 3) Don't know 307 7.0 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
194) FUNDAMEN
Do you consider yourself to be any of the following? -- A Fundamental Christian
TOTAL % 1) Yes 947 21.6 2) No 3056 69.7 3) Don't know 380 8.7 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
195) LIBERAL
Do you consider yourself to be any of the following? -- A Liberal or Progressive Christian
TOTAL % 1) Yes 2164 49.4 2) No 1918 43.8 3) Don't know 301 6.9 Missing 2117
TOTAL 4383 100.0
221) I-RELIGION
Do you ever think of yourself as part of a religious tradition? For example, do you consider yourself as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, other non-Christian, agnostic or atheist, nothing in particular, or something else? (recoded for use with on-line analysis)
TOTAL % 0) Christian 4383 73.5 1) Jewish 92 1.5 2) Other 423 7.1 3) None 785 13.2 4) Agnst/Aths 279 4.7 Missing 538
TOTAL 5962 100.0
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