Survey year | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 70% | 20% | 6% | 4% | 1% | 12,935 |
2007 | 70% | 21% | 5% | 3% | 1% | 13,598 |
Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important
Importance of religion in one's life among conservatives by religious group
% of conservatives who say religion is…
Religious tradition | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 67% | 26% | 5% | 2% | < 1% | 2,780 |
Evangelical Protestant | 85% | 12% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 4,975 |
Historically Black Protestant | 90% | 9% | < 1% | 1% | < 1% | 653 |
Jewish | 62% | 22% | 10% | 6% | < 1% | 167 |
Mainline Protestant | 61% | 30% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 2,269 |
Mormon | 90% | 9% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 419 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 22% | 25% | 24% | 27% | 2% | 1,277 |
Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important
Switch Display To: religious group among conservatives by importance of religion
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are ages…
Importance of religion in one's life | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 13% | 32% | 30% | 24% | 8,929 |
Somewhat important | 19% | 33% | 31% | 18% | 2,438 |
Not too important | 26% | 34% | 25% | 15% | 723 |
Not at all important | 28% | 34% | 21% | 18% | 530 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by age group
Generational cohort among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 8% | 10% | 27% | 36% | 16% | 2% | 8,929 |
Somewhat important | 13% | 11% | 28% | 37% | 11% | 1% | 2,438 |
Not too important | 19% | 13% | 29% | 29% | 10% | 1% | 723 |
Not at all important | 20% | 14% | 27% | 26% | 12% | 1% | 530 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by generational group
Gender composition among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Very important | 46% | 54% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 61% | 39% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 68% | 32% | 731 |
Not at all important | 75% | 25% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who identify as…
Importance of religion in one's life | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 70% | 12% | 2% | 13% | 3% | 9,001 |
Somewhat important | 74% | 6% | 3% | 13% | 3% | 2,435 |
Not too important | 80% | 2% | 4% | 11% | 2% | 719 |
Not at all important | 76% | 5% | 5% | 11% | 3% | 528 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 13% | 7% | 80% | 9,046 |
Somewhat important | 12% | 9% | 79% | 2,452 |
Not too important | 9% | 12% | 79% | 726 |
Not at all important | 10% | 11% | 78% | 530 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by immigrant status
Income distribution among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who have a household income of…
Importance of religion in one's life | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 33% | 21% | 29% | 17% | 7,783 |
Somewhat important | 30% | 20% | 29% | 21% | 2,215 |
Not too important | 26% | 21% | 31% | 22% | 643 |
Not at all important | 30% | 18% | 28% | 24% | 476 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by household income
Educational distribution among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who have completed…
Importance of religion in one's life | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 44% | 33% | 16% | 8% | 9,098 |
Somewhat important | 47% | 31% | 15% | 7% | 2,463 |
Not too important | 46% | 32% | 15% | 7% | 727 |
Not at all important | 46% | 29% | 16% | 9% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by educational group
Marital status among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 60% | 4% | 12% | 8% | 16% | 9,096 |
Somewhat important | 52% | 9% | 13% | 5% | 21% | 2,466 |
Not too important | 51% | 9% | 10% | 3% | 27% | 723 |
Not at all important | 41% | 9% | 15% | 4% | 31% | 531 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Very important | 31% | 69% | 9,095 |
Somewhat important | 29% | 71% | 2,466 |
Not too important | 25% | 75% | 729 |
Not at all important | 22% | 78% | 532 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say they…
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 92% | 7% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 59% | 33% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 24% | 42% | 13% | 1% | 14% | 6% | 731 |
Not at all important | 21% | 11% | 11% | 1% | 48% | 7% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by belief in God
Attendance at religious services among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who attend religious services…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 67% | 24% | 8% | < 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 14% | 55% | 30% | < 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 2% | 33% | 65% | < 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 4% | 11% | 85% | < 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who pray…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 86% | 11% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 40% | 30% | 11% | 19% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 16% | 13% | 11% | 60% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 15% | 3% | 3% | 79% | 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who attend prayer group…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 48% | 12% | 10% | 29% | 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 8% | 9% | 10% | 73% | < 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 2% | 2% | 3% | 93% | < 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 4% | 1% | 3% | 92% | < 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by attendance at prayer groups
Frequency of meditation among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who meditate…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 54% | 7% | 3% | 34% | 2% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 25% | 10% | 5% | 59% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 18% | 8% | 4% | 70% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 23% | 7% | 2% | 66% | 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 80% | 10% | 5% | 4% | 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 41% | 23% | 14% | 20% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 27% | 16% | 15% | 42% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 34% | 11% | 7% | 46% | 2% | 537 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 50% | 16% | 10% | 23% | 2% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 36% | 16% | 16% | 31% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 34% | 14% | 16% | 35% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 42% | 14% | 11% | 32% | 1% | 537 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Importance of religion in one's life | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 65% | 4% | 25% | 3% | 2% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 18% | 10% | 61% | 9% | 2% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 4% | 11% | 70% | 12% | 2% | 731 |
Not at all important | 5% | 12% | 64% | 18% | 1% | 537 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say…
Importance of religion in one's life | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 54% | 43% | 2% | 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 38% | 60% | 2% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 34% | 64% | 1% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 28% | 70% | 1% | 2% | 537 |
Frequency of reading scripture among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who read scripture…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 66% | 11% | 7% | 16% | 1% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 14% | 13% | 13% | 58% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 5% | 4% | 4% | 87% | < 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 11% | 2% | 4% | 83% | 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by frequency of reading scripture
Interpreting scripture among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say the holy scripture is…
Importance of religion in one's life | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 57% | 29% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 22% | 39% | 2% | 29% | 8% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 7% | 20% | 1% | 62% | 10% | 731 |
Not at all important | 6% | 7% | 1% | 81% | 6% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by interpretation of scripture
Belief in Heaven among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who …in heaven
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 89% | 5% | 6% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 83% | 10% | 7% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 53% | 35% | 12% | 731 |
Not at all important | 24% | 66% | 10% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who …in hell
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 80% | 13% | 7% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 66% | 25% | 9% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 39% | 51% | 11% | 731 |
Not at all important | 18% | 73% | 8% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who identify as…
Importance of religion in one's life | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 64% | 12% | 24% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 61% | 14% | 24% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 65% | 14% | 21% | 731 |
Not at all important | 61% | 19% | 20% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by political party
Views about size of government among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who would rather have…
Importance of religion in one's life | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 68% | 28% | 2% | 2% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 69% | 28% | 2% | 2% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 78% | 19% | 1% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 76% | 20% | 3% | 1% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by views about size of government
Views about government aid to the poor among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say government aid to the poor…
Importance of religion in one's life | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 62% | 32% | 4% | 2% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 65% | 31% | 3% | 1% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 65% | 29% | 4% | 1% | 731 |
Not at all important | 67% | 28% | 3% | 2% | 537 |
Views about abortion among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say abortion should be…
Importance of religion in one's life | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 25% | 72% | 4% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 50% | 45% | 5% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 64% | 32% | 4% | 731 |
Not at all important | 68% | 28% | 4% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say homosexuality…
Importance of religion in one's life | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 32% | 59% | 5% | 4% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 60% | 31% | 5% | 4% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 69% | 25% | 3% | 3% | 731 |
Not at all important | 71% | 21% | 5% | 2% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who …same-sex marriage
Importance of religion in one's life | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 22% | 71% | 7% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 47% | 45% | 9% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 57% | 34% | 9% | 731 |
Not at all important | 65% | 28% | 8% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by views about same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say…
Importance of religion in one's life | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 56% | 39% | 3% | 3% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 54% | 41% | 2% | 3% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 51% | 44% | 2% | 3% | 731 |
Not at all important | 51% | 43% | 3% | 3% | 537 |
Views about human evolution among conservatives by importance of religion
% of conservatives who say humans…
Importance of religion in one's life | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 9% | 25% | 2% | 58% | 5% | 9,129 |
Somewhat important | 28% | 31% | 5% | 33% | 4% | 2,473 |
Not too important | 55% | 19% | 6% | 16% | 3% | 731 |
Not at all important | 67% | 8% | 2% | 19% | 4% | 537 |
Switch Display To: importance of religion among conservatives by views about human evolution