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Restructuring of American Religion: Further Evidence *
Author(s) -
Wuthnow Robert
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1996.tb00223.x
Subject(s) - ideology , restructuring , socialization , sociology , survey data collection , distribution (mathematics) , social psychology , religious organization , general social survey , sociology of religion , epistemology , social science , law , political science , psychology , politics , philosophy , mathematical analysis , statistics , mathematics
Data are analyzed from three national surveys conducted in 1984, 1989, and 1992, supplemented by other data from a 1991 and a 1992 survey, to examine the distribution of religious conservatives, moderates, and liberals, and to consider the social and ideological correlates of these religious orientations. The results suggest overall stability in the distribution of these orientations and offer modest support for status group, religious socialization, and religious organization interpretations of their sources. The results also indicate that religious views correspond with positions on a number of contested social policy issues, but cast doubt on arguments about deeper differences in worldview and moral perspectives. The ways in which the data support and help to refine arguments presented in The Restrucruring of American Religion are discussed.