Figuring Faith

Dr. Robert P. Jones is a member of the Washington Post’s On Faith blogging network, an independent network of experts and activists providing commentary and analysis of religion. At his blog, Figuring Faith, Dr. Jones analyzes findings from Public Religion Research Institute and aggregates polling data on religion, values, and politics from a variety of sources. Check in each week as he connects politics with the pews, helping readers understand how public sentiment on religion and politics will shape 2012 and beyond.

Figuring Faith | Presidential Debate Challenge: Connecting With the Misunderstood White Working Class

[10.03.2012]

At the first presidential debate, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will both need to overcome two commonly held stereotypes if they want to successfully appeal to white working-class voters. In this week’s article for “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones outlines this significant challenge.

Figuring Faith | President Obama’s Faith Challenge at the Democratic Convention

[09.06.2012]

Tonight, Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination for the second time. But as he moves into the home stretch of the campaign, he faces a significant challenge: many Americans are not aware of his religious faith.

Figuring Faith | Romney’s High-Wire Act on Religion at the Republican Convention

[08.27.2012]

In his speech at the Republican National Convention, Romney will need to discuss his Mormon faith without delving into the specifics of Mormon theology.

Figuring Faith | Why Obama’s Support for Gay Marriage Won’t Hurt Him Among African Americans

[08.06.2012]

In May, Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage. Will this controversial move erode Obama’s popularity within the black community?

Figuring Faith | Americans Less Divided on Approach to Immigration, Survey Says

[07.10.2012]

In this week’s installment of Figuring Faith, Dr. Robert P. Jones explores Americans’ attitudes toward immigration policy. Examining the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. United States, Dr. Jones shows that Americans are less divided on approaches to immigration policy than one might assume: When asked whether a range of issues should be decided at the national or the state level, nearly 8-in-10 (77 percent) Americans say… more

Figuring Faith | A Fortnight of Facts About Religious Liberty

[06.21.2012]

In this week’s article for “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones kicks off the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ “Fortnight for Freedom” with a “Fortnight of Facts About Religious Liberty.” Check out a sampling of Americans’ views on the hotly debated issue of religious liberty below, and make sure you stay tuned to the blog over the next two weeks, where we’ll be unpacking some of these factoids in more detail. We’ll also… more

Figuring Faith | Pro-Choice and Pro-Life? On Abortion, Americans Say “It’s Complicated”

[05.29.2012]

Can terms like “pro-choice” and “pro-life” adequately capture the complexity of Americans’ views on abortion? In this week’s post for “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones tackles this tough question, responding to recent data from Gallup which appears to show a sharp drop in the number of Americans who identify as “pro-choice.” Dr. Jones uses findings from a PRRI survey to show why this conclusion is more reflective of the… more

Figuring Faith | Why Are Millennials Leaving the Church?

[04.26.2012]

In this week’s installment of “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones explores the high levels of religious disaffiliation among younger Millennials (age 18-24). The 2012 Millennial Values survey showed that significant numbers of Millennials are leaving their childhood religions to identify as religiously unaffiliated, a shift that has profound implications for clergy and churches. There are also clues to some of the factors that may be driving the movement away… more

Figuring Faith | What Are Jewish Values?

[04.04.2012]

In this week’s column for “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones considers the values associated with Passover, a ritual feast that commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the Israelites were emancipated from slavery in ancient Egypt. These values, he explains, include a strong commitment to social justice, which remains a fundamental component of American Jews’ political activities and identity: This Friday night after sundown, as they move through… more

Figuring Faith | For Most Americans, Religious Liberty Important But Not Absolute

[03.21.2012]

In this week’s column for “Figuring Faith,” Dr. Robert P. Jones uses recent PRRI polling to tackle the question of whether Americans believe their religious liberty is under siege. Examining public opinion about recent White House regulations which require religiously affiliated organizations to provide insurance plans with no-cost birth control to their employees, as well as the ongoing debate about whether religiously affiliated adoption agencies should be permitted to refuse… more