The effects of education on Americans' religious practices, beliefs, and affiliations

Philip Schwadel

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

I challenge the scholarly contention that increases in education uniformly lead to declines in religious participation, belief, and affiliation. I argue that education influences strategies of action, and these strategies of action are relevant to some religious beliefs and activities but not others. Analysis of survey data shows that (1) education negatively affects exclusivist religious viewpoints and biblical literalism but not belief in God or the afterlife; (2) education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life; (3) education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation; (4) education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society but not with support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders; and (5) the effects of education on religious beliefs and participation vary across religious traditions. Education does influence Americans' religious beliefs and activities, but the effects of education on religion are complex.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-182
Number of pages22
JournalReview of Religious Research
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Culture
  • Education
  • Religious tradition
  • Social class

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Religious studies
  • Philosophy

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