U.S. Satisfaction With Religion Settling at Lower Levels

[cbayer]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/181532/satisfaction-religion-settling-lower-levels.aspx?utm_source=tagrss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syndication

February 12, 2015

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, N.J. -- A slight majority of Americans, 53%, are satisfied with the influence of organized religion in the U.S. This level of satisfaction has changed little over the past three years, but remains down from what Gallup has measured previously -- including higher levels measured in 2001 to 2004 -- suggesting that Americans' satisfaction with organized religion has settled in at a new baseline.



The latest measurement comes from Gallup's annual Mood of the Nation survey, conducted Jan. 5-8. Satisfaction with the influence of religion comes in sixth on the list of 27 aspects of American life that Gallup measures in the survey.

Nearly two in three Americans (64%) were satisfied with the influence of religion when they were first asked this question in this format in January 2001, exactly eight months before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Satisfaction rose to its high point of 69% a year later, then dropped below 60% in the years thereafter. Although Americans' satisfaction has fluctuated some from year to year, the basic pattern has been generally stable since 2005, with slightly lower levels of satisfaction recorded over the past three years.

Most of Those Dissatisfied Want Less Influence of Organized Religion

Americans who report being dissatisfied with the influence of religion were asked if they would like to see organized religion have more influence, less influence or keep its influence as it is now. Most of this dissatisfied group, equating to 22% of all Americans, say they would prefer less influence, while 8% would like to see organized religion have more influence.

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[muriel_volestrangler]

1. An odd question to ask in a poll

If I were asking about the 'satisfaction' with an organized religion, I'd expect it to be about whether it provides a good moral lead, whether it answers questions about life, the universe (and everything ...), provides comfort, or material assistance, to followers or to everyone.

Or is this actually asking whether the respondent is 'satisfied' with the influence that people allow religion to have over them? The way it's one of a series of "are you satisfied with..." questions might point to that: http://www.gallup.com/poll/181187/mood-economy-race-relations-sharply-down.aspx?utm_source=gay&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=tiles (the other 'influence' there is 'size and influence of major corporations'). If that's the case, then "Satisfaction With Religion" is a misleading headline.