Religion in the Aftermath of September 11

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ –

There has been a great deal of talk about an increase in religious attachment and church attendance among Americans after the terrible events of Sept. 11. What do the survey data show?

Frank Newport: We don't find any indication in our regular Gallup poll measures of a significant change in religious behavior since Sept. 11.

These poll questions ask people directly about their religiosity -- without any direct reference to Sept. 11 -- and are probably our best measures of any real or enduring impact that the events may have had.

Church attendance is one of the putative changes in religion that has received the most discussion. There was a great deal of anecdotal evidence that the pews in churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship were filled to capacity in the week or two immediately after the terrorist attacks. But the answers to our classic Gallup question, "Did you yourself happen to attend church or synagogue in the last seven days, or not?" show no lasting change.

Over the last decade, the responses to this question have averaged right at about 40%, with the usual fluctuation that occurs from survey to survey. The last time we asked the question before Sept. 11 was in May, when 41% of Americans replied that they had gone to church or synagogue within the last seven days. Right after the attacks, in our Sept. 21-22 survey, the percentage moved up slightly to 47%, but in two subsequent surveys, in early November and this past weekend, Dec. 14-16, the percentages have been 42% and 41%.

In other words, church attendance as measured by this question has settled right back down to where it was.

Do you have any other measures of religious behavior?

Frank Newport: A different question asks the public to estimate how often they attend church or synagogue, and the 45% who say "once a week or almost every week" is little changed from what we have found in recent years.

What about other measures of religiosity, such as the personal importance of religion to Americans. Has that changed?

Frank Newport: No, the self-reported importance of religion to Americans is no different now than before Sept. 11. Sixty percent in our December 14-16 poll said that religion was very important to them in their daily life. That's down slightly from the 64% who said religion was very important immediately after Sept. 11, but in recent years the percentage saying "yes" has hovered around the 60% level, with fluctuations up and down from survey to survey, so our interpretation is that this reflects essentially no change.

Based on this measure, in other words, there is no wholesale difference now in how people describe the importance of religion in their lives compared to before Sept. 11.

Additionally, we are finding a continuation of a slight decrease in the number of Americans who say that religion can answer all or most of life's problems -- at least compared to the last couple of years. Sixty-one percent now say that religion can answer life's problems. That's little different from earlier in the 1990s, although down a bit from the last couple of years when our polling has been showing a slight increase in the sentiment that religion can answer life's problems.

Do these findings surprise you?

George Gallup, Jr.: Frankly, yes. Certainly the period immediately following the terrorists' attacks could be described as "a dark night of the nation's soul." And, in view of the fact that studies have shown that many people tend to turn to God at a time of personal emotional, physical, or spiritual pain or turmoil, I had assumed that this would be the case following the attacks.

Since there has been so much discussion about the impact of Sept. 11 on religion, do Americans think that others in the country have become more religious, even if they themselves have not?

Frank Newport: Interestingly, there has been a wholesale change in Americans' perceptions of the impact of religion "out there" across America. For many years, Gallup has asked, "At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life, or losing its influence?" The percentage of Americans saying "increasing" in response to that question has now skyrocketed to 71%, the highest in Gallup Poll history. To put that in perspective, only 39% said yes in February of this year. The highest percent saying yes in recent years has been 48% in January of 1998. Way back in 1957, a Gallup poll found 69% saying yes.

How do you explain the fact that Americans overwhelmingly feel that religion is having a greater influence on society, but haven't changed their own religious behavior or attitudes?

George Gallup, Jr.: It would, I believe, be very difficult for the average American not to believe that religion is increasing its impact on society, in view of the near total media coverage of the New York scene, including reports of record numbers of people flocking to houses of worship.

Clearly, behavior, at least in terms of religious practice, is not reflecting perception. In this respect, I think it is important to note that surveys can often serve as a kind of objective "reality check."

Traumatic events on the national or world scene appear to have a powerful but short-lived impact on the spirituality of the U.S. populace. As a case in point, at the time of the Gulf War 10 years ago, many more Americans than usual reported praying. However, in the weeks that ensued, the level of praying, as well as other measurements of religiosity, returned to normal levels.

As others have noted, lasting changes of heart most likely come about in response to close-at-home personal and family traumas, not because of these types of national tragedies.

Why do you think there has been so much discussion about religion increasing its influence since Sept. 11?

George Gallup, Jr.: Certainly there may be some wishful thinking involved. Religious leaders have long sought a "turning to God" among the populace in a society that they would describe as materialistic and self-absorbed. It is understandable why religious observers would speculate about a spiritual awakening or a revival after the terrorist attacks. Over the last decade, Gallup has documented an explosion of interest among the U.S. populace in spiritual matters -- an intensified searching for spiritual moorings, a hunger for God.

Is it possible that the measures reviewed here aren't picking up some type of changes that may have taken place?

George Gallup, Jr.: Possibly, but I think our measurements would register any kind of broad national spiritual awakening.

At the same time, however, it is possible that these terrible events are leading people to look more deeply into their own hearts, or are being manifested in more subtle ways that will take additional types of questions to pick up. The challenge to survey researchers is to continue to devise measurements that will explore the spiritual life of people on the deepest level possible.

Survey Methods

These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,019 adults, 18 years and older, conducted Dec. 14-16, 2001. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

How important would you say religion is in your own life -- very important, fairly important, or not very important?

 

	Very important	Fairly important	Not very important	No opinion
2001 Dec 14-16	60	26	13	1
2001 Sep 21-22	64	24	12	*
2001 May 10-14	57	28	15	*
2001 Feb 19-21	55	30	15	*
2000 Aug 24-27	57	31	12	*
2000 Mar 17-19	61	27	12	*
1999 Dec 9-12	61	27	11	1
1999 Apr 30-May 2	58	30	11	1
1998 Jun 22-23	62	25	12	1
1998 Jan 16-18	59	29	12	*
1997 Nov 6-9	58	28	13	1
1997 Aug 12-13	62	27	11	*
1997 Mar 24-26	61	27	11	1
1996 Nov 21-24	58	27	14	1
1996 Sep 3-5	55	31	13	1
1996 Jun 27-30	57	26	17	*
1995 Dec 15-18	60	28	12	*
1995 Aug 28-30	58	30	11	1
1995 May 11-14	56	30	13	1
1994 Dec 16-18	60	28	11	1
1994 Jun 25-28	55	30	14	1
1994 Mar 28-30	59	29	11	1
1993 Mar 12-14	59	32	9	*
1992 Nov 20-22	59	28	12	1
1992 Apr	58	29	13	*
1991 Nov	55	29	15	1
1991 May	57	30	13	*
1991 Mar	55	29	16	*
1991 Feb 7-10	60	29	11	*
1991 Jan 30-Feb 2	63	28	9	1
1990 Jun	58	29	13	*
1989	55	30	14	1
1988	54	31	14	1
1987	53	32	14	1
1986	55	30	14	1
1985	55	31	13	1
1984	56	30	13	1
1983	56	30	13	1
1982	56	30	13	1
1981	56	29	14	1
1980	55	31	13	1
1978	52	32	14	2
1965	70	22	7	1
1952 ^	75	20	5	*
^ Ben Gaffin and Associates

At the present time, do you think religion as a whole is increasing its influence on American life or losing its influence?

 

	Increasing influence	Losing influence	SAME (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	71	24	2	3
2001 Feb 19-21	39	55	3	3
2000 Aug 24-27	35	58	4	3
2000 Mar 17-19	37	58	--	5
1999 Dec 9-12	40	54	3	3
1999 Apr 30-May 2	32	62	3	3
1998 Jun 22-23	37	56	4	3
1998 Jan 16-18	48	48	1	3
1997 Aug 12-13	36	60	1	3
1997 Mar 24-26	36	57	3	4
1995 Dec 15-18	38	57	2	3
1995 May 11-14	36	58	3	3
1994 Jun 25-28	28	67	2	3
1994 Mar 28-30	27	69	2	2
1992 Nov	27	63	4	5
1991 Nov	27	66	3	4
1991 May	34	57	--	9
1990 Jun	33	48	8	11
1989 Apr	33	49	9	9
1988 Mar	36	49	6	9
1986 Sep	48	38	6	7
1985 Nov	45	41	--	14
1985 Mar	48	39	10	3
1984 Jun	42	39	14	6
1983 Oct	44	42	9	5
1983 Jan	44	42	9	5
1982 Dec	41	45	9	5
1981 Dec	38	47	10	6
1980 Apr	35	46	11	8
1978 Dec	37	48	10	5
1977 Dec	37	45	10	9
1976 Dec	44	45	8	3
1975 Dec	39	51	7	3
1974 Dec	31	56	8	5
1970 Jan	14	75	7	4
1969 May	14	71	11	5
1968 Apr	19	67	8	7
1967 Mar	23	57	14	6
1965 Feb	33	45	13	8
1962 Feb	45	32	17	7
1957 Mar	69	14	10	6

Do you happen to be a member of a church or synagogue?

 

	Yes	No			Yes	No
	%	%			%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	66	34		1993 Mar	71	29
				1992 Nov	70	30
2001 Feb 19-21	65	35		1992 Apr	71	29
2000 Aug 24-27	68	32		1991 Nov	69	31
2000 Mar 17-19	68	32		1991 May	69	31
1999 Dec 9-12	68	32		1991 Mar	66	34
1999 Apr 30-May 2	71	29		1991 Feb	67	33
1998 Jun 22-23	70	30		1990 Jun	69	31
1998 Jan 16-18	67	33		1989	68	32
1997 Aug 12-13	68	32		1988	65	35
1997 Mar 24-26	67	33		1987	69	31
1996 Nov 21-24	66	34		1985	71	29
1996 Sep 3-5	65	35		1983	69	31
1996 Jun 27-30	64	36		1982	67	33
1995 Dec 15-18	71	29		1979	68	32
1995 Sep 22-24	66	34		1976	71	29
1995 Aug 28-30	69	31		1965	73	27
1995 May 11-14	69	31		1952	73	27
1994 Dec 16-18	67	33		1947	76	24
1994 Jun 25-28	68	32		1944	75	25
1994 Mar 28-30	70	30		1940	72	28
1993 Jun	65	35		1937	73	27

Did you, yourself, happen to attend church or synagogue in the last seven days, or not?

 

	Yes	No			Yes	No
	%	%			%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	41	59		1992 Nov	40	60
				1992 Apr	41	59
2001 Nov 8-11	42	58		1991 Nov	41	59
2001 Sep 21-22	47	53		1991 May	43	57
2001 May 10-14	41	59		1991 Mar	43	57
2001 Feb 19-21	41	59		1990 Jun	40	60
2000 Aug 24-27	43	57		1989	43	57
2000 Mar 17-19	44	56		1988	42	58
1999 Dec 9-12	45	55		1987	40	60
1999 Apr 30-May 2	40	60		1985	42	58
1998 Jun 22-23	40	60		1983	40	60
1998 Jan 16-18	39	61		1982	41	59
1997 Aug 12-13	35	65		1981	41	59
1997 Mar 24-26	43	57		1979	40	60
1996 Nov 21-24	39	61		1972	40	60
1996 Sep 3-5	37	63		1969	42	58
1996 Jun 27-30	38	62		1967	43	57
1995 Dec 15-18	44	56		1962	46	54
1995 Aug 28-30	42	57		1958	49	51
1995 May 11-14	41	59		1957	47	53
1994 Dec 16-18	38	62		1955	49	51
1994 Jun 25-28	40	60		1954	46	54
1994 Mar 28-30	48	52		1950	39	61
1993 Jun	38	62		1940	37	63
1993 Mar	41	59		1939	41	59

How often do you attend church or synagogue -- at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month, seldom, or never?

 

	Once a week	Almost every week	About once a month	Seldom	Never	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	34	11	15	28	12	*
2001 Jun 11-17	30	11	12	29	18	*
2001 Feb 19-21	30	12	15	29	13	1
2000 Aug 24-27	35	11	15	27	11	1
2000 Mar 17-19	36	11	13	30	10	*
1999 Jan 7-10	32	12	13	29	13	1
1999 Dec 9-12	36	12	16	28	8	*
1999 Sep 23-26	30	9	13	28	19	1
1999 Sep 10-14	31	13	14	27	14	1
1999 Apr 30-May 2	30	14	18	28	9	1
1998 Jun 22-23	32	13	19	26	9	1
1998 Jan 16-18	32	12	15	30	10	1
1997 Aug 12-13	29	12	17	29	12	1
1997 Mar 24-26	30	13	17	30	9	1
1996 Nov 21-24	28	11	17	33	10	1
1996 Sep 3-5	29	12	16	32	10	1
1996 Jun 27-30	27	13	13	34	13	*
1996 Jan 12-15	33	12	15	28	11	1
1995 Dec 15-18	34	11	16	28	10	1
1995 Sep 22-24	31	13	14	31	11	*
1995 Aug 28-30	30	13	17	31	8	1
1995 May 11-14	30	12	17	31	10	*
1994 Dec 16-18	30	12	16	31	11	*
1994 Jun 25-28	32	14	17	27	10	*
1994 Mar 28-30	35	15	16	25	9	*
1992 Sep 11-15	34	10	15	26	14	1
1992 Jan 3-6	31	9	15	29	16	1

Would you describe yourself as "born-again" or evangelical?

 

	Yes	No	No opinion
	%	%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	42	49	9
2001 Feb 19-21	45	49	6
2000 Aug 24-27	44	50	6
2000 Mar 17-19	46	47	7
1999 Dec 9-12	46	48	6
1999 Apr 30-May 2	45	47	8
1998 Jun 22-23	44	48	8
1998 Jan 16-18	49	43	8
1997 Aug 12-13	45	47	8
1997 Mar 24-26	43	51	6
1996 Nov 21-24	41	52	7
1996 Sep 3-5	42	52	6
1996 Jun 27-30	35	58	7
1995 Dec 15-18	43	52	5
1995 Aug 28-30	39	54	7
1995 May 11-14	39	53	8
1994 Jun 25-28	39	53	8
1994 Mar 28-30	45	48	7
1993 Mar	46	50	4
1992 Apr	42	52	6
1991 Nov	41	54	5
^ November 1991-March 1997 WORDING: Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian?

Do you believe that religion can answer all or most of today's problems, or that religion is largely old-fashioned and out of date?

 

	Can answer	Old fashioned	No opinion
	%	%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	61	21	18
2001 Feb 19-21	63	22	15
2000 Aug 24-27	63	17	20
2000 Mar 17-19	66	21	13
1999 Dec 9-12	68	19	13
1999 Apr 30-May 2	66	21	11
1998 Jun 22-23	63	20	17
1998 Jan 16-18	67	20	13
1997 Aug 12-13	66	20	14
1997 Mar 24-26	61	20	19
1995 Dec 15-18	61	21	18
1994 Jun 25-28	59	23	18
1994 Mar 28-30	64	20	16
1991 May	59	23	19
1991 Mar	60	22	17
1991 Feb	61	25	14
1990 Jun	63	18	19
1989 Apr	61	18	22
1988 May	57	29	23
1986 Sep	58	23	20
1985 Nov	58	24	18
1985 Mar	61	22	17
1984 Jun	56	21	23
1982 Dec	60	22	18
1981 Jan	65	15	20
1974 Dec	62	20	18
1957 Mar	82	7	11

(vol.) -- Volunteered response

* -- Less than 0.5%