WACO, Texas (ABP) — The stereotypical images of “liberals” and “evangelicals” create a distorted picture of what issues are important to each group and how each will vote in November, according to new research.
A recent survey by researchers at Baylor University reveals much more diverse opinions than politicians have assumed. For instance, 76 percent of evangelicals believe the government should do more to protect the environment. And 74 percent of evangelicals believe it is “very important” to seek social and economic justice, according to the survey.
What's more, half of the nation's evangelicals think the government should not fund faith-based organizations, and half think the government should more evenly distribute wealth in this country.
Paul Froese, an assistant professor of sociology who helped conduct the survey, said the data shows that even though evangelical Protestants will likely vote Republican, certain policy issues make them a difficult group to lump together.
According to his report, released Oct. 25, 40 percent of evangelicals who support George W. Bush actually emerged as “liberal” on economic issues, specifically in beliefs about wealth distribution and economic justice.
Of course, Froese reiterated, evangelicals remain conservative on social issues like gay marriage and abortion. They also, as usually assumed, support the Iraq War and the Patriot Act.
“Regardless of these specific liberal tendencies, evangelical Protestants currently do not appear moved towards the Democratic Party,” he said in a statement about the report. “However, heading into the midterm elections, Democratic strategists should take note of the fact that a substantial portion of evangelicals express what have long been believed as liberal views on certain social issues.”
Conversely, some voters not classified as evangelicals revealed surprising opinions on some traditionally “liberal” causes. According to Baylor researchers, 61 percent of “nonevangelicals” think religious groups should be allowed to display religious symbols in public spaces. And a whopping 64 percent of nonevangelicals think the government should allow prayer in public schools.
Politicos nationwide would do well to take note of the twist in voter consciousness, Byron Johnson, co-director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, said in the report. “Such findings should not go unnoticed by Republican officials,” he said.
Researchers also stressed that when 39 percent of nonevangelicals think the government should “advocate” Christian values and 52 percent of them want the feds to “defend” Christian values, it could throw unexpected twists into upcoming elections, especially in the 2008 presidential race.
Released in September, the initial findings from the Baylor Religion Survey were released in a report called American Piety in the 21st Century. Funded by the John Templeton Foundation and conducted by Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion, the report used a national random sampling of 1,721 respondents. The more than 350 questions on the report covered spirituality issues from reasons for prayer and beliefs about God to supernatural experiences and the paranormal.
-30-
Read more:
Americans believe in four Gods, Baylor religion study finds
Religious affiliations just aren't what they used to be, report finds