Tables and Figures to Accompany

Transcription

1 Tables and Figures to Accompany CORRELATES OF BELIEF IN REINCARNATION AMONG CHRISTIAN WORSHIPERS John P. Marcum Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, San Francisco, August 2004 Unless otherwise specified, the source for all data is the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, 2001 ABSTRACT National surveys in the United States have found that one in five respondents believe in reincarnation. This presentation extends that research by focusing on belief in reincarnation among Christian worshipers in the United States using data from the 2001 U.S. Congregational Life Survey. A total of 1,294 respondents, out of 122,183 in the national random sample of the USCLS, completed a supplemental page with a question on belief in reincarnation. A total of 20% of these respondents indicated such a belief. Worshipers who believe in reincarnation, on average, attend worship with less frequency and participate less often in other church activities; participate less often in private devotional activities; and are less likely to hold congregational leadership positions. Belief in reincarnation is highest among Catholics, lowest among conservative Protestants, with mainline Protestants intermediate. A higher proportion of men than women, and of those below age 30 and above age 70, believe in reincarnation. Belief in reincarnation is inversely related to annual household income, but not to education. A multivariate analysis reveals that differences by denominational groupings remain but those associated with church attendance and time spent in devotional activities do not, after controlling for age, income, education, and sex. Table 1. Belief in Reincarnation Table 2. Belief in Reincarnation 2001 USCLS Harris Polls Q. Which of the following do you believe in? Reincarnation % N % N Year % Yes Unsure No No response Total ,194* *10 respondents from non-christian congregations were excluded

2 Figure 1. Belief in Reincarnation by Frequency of Worship Attendance 25% Every week 42% Usually every week 2-3 times a month Once a month χ 2 = <p <.05 32% Less than once a month 0% 20% 40% to belief in reincarnation Figure 2. Belief in Reincarnation by Participation in Other Congregational Activities Fellowship or social group χ 2 = 8.2, p <.05 Bible study or prayer group 23% Does not participate Participates χ 2 = 21.7 p <.001 Sunday school 19% χ 2 = 23.8, p =.001 Figure 3. Belief in Reincarnation by Time Spent in Devotional Activities Never 23% 38% 36% Hardly ever Occasionally Once a week χ 2 = 24.3 p <.01 A few times a week Every day 40%

3 Figure 4. Belief in Reincarnation by Congregational Leadership Activities Religious education teacher χ 2 = 11.5, p <.01 12% Choir member Leader of a group 21% Member of governing board 19% 0% 20% 40% χ 2 = 0.1, n.s. Is not χ 2 = 4.8, 0.1 < p <.05 Member of χ 2 = 4.2, n.s. committee Is χ 2 = 2.6, n.s. Figure 5. Belief in Reincarnation by Opinion on Religious Relativism Q: All the world s religions are equally good ways for someone to find ultimate truth 25% 30% 31% Strongly agree Agree Neutral/unsure Disagree χ 2 = p < % Strongly disagree Figure 6. Belief in Reincarnation by Willingness to Talk about One s Faith 14% 22% 36% Do not have faith Do not like to talk about my faith Find it hard to express my faith At ease expressing my faith Seek opportunities to express my faith χ 2 = 20.5 p <.01

4 Figure 7. Belief in Reincarnation by Formal Education 8th grade or less 39% 36% Some high school Completed high 26% school 22% Trade certificate 26% 19% Associate's degree χ 2 = 20.2 n.s. 50% Bachelor's degree Figure 8. Belief in Reincarnation by Race Ethnicity 17% 26% 40% 42% Asian Black Hispanic Indian White Other 52% χ 2 = 6.6, p <.05 χ 2 = 0.1, n.s. χ 2 = 14.5, p <.001 χ 2 = 2.6, n.s. χ 2 = 20.4, p <.001 χ 2 = 7.4, p <.05 50% 60% Figure 9. Belief in Reincarnation by Sex 30% Male Female χ 2 = 14.9 p =.001

5 Figure 10. Belief in Reincarnation by Age 38% % % % <30 χ 2 = 19.0 p <.05 Figure 11. Belief in Reincarnation by Total Annual Household Income 21% 25% 30% 33% 36% $100,000 or more $75,000-$99,999 $50,000-$74,999 $25,000-$49,999 $10,000-$24,999 <$10,000 χ 2 = 26.1 p <.01 Figure 12. Belief in Reincarnation by Denominational Group 17% 31% Catholic Mainline Protestant Conservative Protestant χ 2 = 20.1 p <.001

6 Figure 12. Belief in Reincarnation by Other Beliefs Hell χ 2 = 63.2, p <.001 Angels 10% χ 2 = 60.5, p <.001 Life after death 5% 31% χ 2 = 109.5, p <.001 Heaven 14% No Yes χ 2 = 19.6, p =.001 Miracles 17% χ 2 = 15.0, p <.01 Table 3. Logistic Regression Analysis for Belief in Reincarnation Independent Variable Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4 b p b p b p b p Year born Sex (female) Education Annual HH income Denominational group Catholic.92 < < <.001 Mainline Protestant Conservative Prot. (omitted) Worship attendance Time spent in devotions Constant χ p.05 <.001 <.001 <.001