The PRRI Blog
New Survey Finds American Congregations Slowly Losing Members
Taking the temperature of America’s congregations might seem like an impossible task, given the country’s vast array of religious institutions, but a new survey from The Hartford Institute for Religion Research paints a vivid portrait of the status of American faith communities. In “A Decade of Change in American Congregations 2000- 2010,” survey author David A. Roozen shows that in the past decade, despite “bursts of innovation and pockets of… more
Call Him Crazy: Huntsman for President in 2024?
If you’ve been hankering for some thoughtful commentary from PRRI’s CEO, Dr. Robert P. Jones, look no further than his latest article for the CNN Belief Blog. Jon Huntsman isn’t doing so well in the 2012 GOP primary, but Dr. Jones predicts that given where younger Republicans stand on issues like same-sex marriage, evolution and climate change, and Biblical literalism, a Huntsman-esque campaign could be the model for Republican candidates… more
The Morning Buzz | October 3, 2011
Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? There was some good news for “Arrested Development” fans this weekend – not only will there be a movie, but there will be a 10-episode lead-up to its release. Followers of the cult TV show are ecstatic; as one blog… more
The Morning Buzz | September 30, 2011
Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? It’s Friday! Take a deep breath, and look at this adorable picture of a tiger cub getting a big ol’ lick from its mom. L’Shanah Tovah to all of the Jews who are in shul and not reading this! It’s… more
Evangelical Woman Criticizes “Biblical Womanhood” By Embracing It
Although the idea of Biblical womanhood may seem foreign to some, it’s a crucial concept for the solid majority (66%) of white evangelical Christians who believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. Last October, a self-identified evangelical Christian blogger and author named Rachel Held Evans set out to test this scriptural literalism by taking it to its logical extreme. In her year-long “Womanhood Project,” she resolved to… more
Want To Know More About American Attitudes on the Death Penalty?
You’re in luck! If you’ve been following our coverage of the recent debates on the death penalty, either in “Figuring Faith” or on the blog, you may want to know more about what Americans think about the death penalty. Toddle right over to our research page to see our latest research note, “American Attitudes on the Death Penalty” and learn about differences along partisan, racial, religious, gender and generational lines,… more
The Morning Buzz | September 29, 2011
Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? And speaking of buzzing, I woke up this morning with a mosquito circling my face – if only I’d read this New York Times article about cheaply killing mosquitoes, I wouldn’t have had to spend the first few minutes of… more
The Morning Buzz | September 28, 2011
Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? To all the women out there, if you were thinking about quitting coffee, think again. Turns out drinking two-three cups a day staves off depression. Researchers were careful to add that this is just an association, but the coffee-addicts of… more
Will Catholics Take Action on Same-Sex Marriage?
Over the past few weeks, two of the most influential figures in the global Catholic hierarchy spoke out, urging Catholics to join together in the moral struggle against same-sex marriage. Pope Benedict XVI, in a much-publicized trip to his homeland, Germany, identified same-sex marriage as a critical threat, not just to the integrity of Catholicism, but to Christianity as a whole. Closer to home, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York… more
The Morning Buzz | September 27, 2011
Welcome to the Morning Buzz, PRRI’s morning dose of religion-related news with a shot of data – because what doesn’t liven up a morning round-up like some public opinion numbers? And, because I’m feeling a little cranky this morning, some words of advice to the gentleman I saw this morning riding a Bikeshare bike, wearing no helmet and listening to his iPod: do not do that. Take a peek at… more