PEW Survey: Despite Modest Liberal Gains Since 2007, More Americans Still Identify as Conservative
By Michael Morris | November 5, 2015 | 5:41 PM EST
http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-morris/pew-survey-despite-modest-liberal-gains-2007-more-americans-still-identifyAccording to Pew Research Centers latest Religious Landscape Study, more American adults identify as politically conservative than politically liberal, despite modest liberal gains.
According to the survey, 36 percent (36%) of American adults identified as conservative in 2014, a slight decline from 37 percent (37%) back in 2007. Meanwhile, only 24 percent (24%) of American adults identified as liberal in 2014, an increase of four percentage points (4%) from 2007.
The percentage of American adults identifying as moderate dropped three percentage points (3%) during that same period, from 36 percent (36%) in 2007 to 33 percent (33%) in 2014.
Among those adults affiliated with any of the listed religions including Christian and Non-Christian affiliations 40 percent (40%) identified as conservative in 2007, and 42 percent (42%) identify as conservative in 2014, an increase of two percentage points (2%) over the period. A mere 17 percent (17%) identified as liberal in 2007, with an increase of three percentage points (3%) in 2014, for a total of 20 percent (20%).
Religious nones are more likely than those in many Christian traditions to describe themselves as politically liberal; indeed, 39% of religious nones now describe themselves as liberals, says the survey. Nones, as the survey calls them, are those adult individuals that identify as religiously unaffiliated.
In 2007, the religious nones identified as 34 percent (34%) liberal and 20 percent (20%) conservative. In 2014, the religious nones identified as 39 percent (39%) liberal and only 18 percent (18%) conservative, a gain of five percentage points (5%) for those identifying as liberal and a decline of two percentage points (2%) for those identifying as conservative.
Among nones, and across all categories of religiously affiliated or unaffiliated, a greater percentage of Atheists identify as liberal than any other category in 2014 at 56 percent (56%), a six percent (6%) increase from 2007. Previously, in 2007, Atheists did not stand alone, however. In 2007, Atheists tied with Buddhists with 50 percent (50%) of adults surveyed in those two respective categories identifying as liberal.
Conversely, Christians identify as conservative more than any other religious affiliation. 42 percent (42%) of Christians, as a whole, including Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Mormon and Jehovahs Witness religious affiliations identified as conservative in 2007, and 44 percent (44%) identified as conservative in 2014.
According to the survey, of the religiously affiliated Christians, those adults affiliated with the Mormon religion most identify as conservative. 61 percent of religiously affiliated Mormons identified as being conservative in 2014, an increase of one percentage point (1%) from 2007.