Demand for God and government: the dynamics of religion and public opinion

Habel, P. and Grant, J.T. (2013) Demand for God and government: the dynamics of religion and public opinion. Politics and Religion, 6(2), pp. 282-302. (doi: 10.1017/S1755048312000570)

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Abstract

We explore the relationship between religiosity and public support for greater government services. We theorize that increases in religiosity and public opinion both reflect demands from citizens in the face of insecurity. We argue that religiosity is comprised of two factors: responses to insecurity; and long-held preferences for religion, or secularity. We show that previous studies that have observed increased religiosity leading to decreased support for government spending have not distinguished among religiosity as driven by secularity versus insecurity. To test our theory, we first estimate a series of simulations, and we then turn to the dynamics of aggregate religiosity and public opinion in the United States over the past fifty years, an environment where long-held preferences for religious goods have remained relatively stable. Consistent with our theory, religiosity and public opinion respond to insecurity; the series are positively correlated, move together through time, and react in similar ways to changes in GDP per capita. Our findings indicate that during times when there is greater insecurity, both religiosity and demand from government increase.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Habel, Dr Philip
Authors: Habel, P., and Grant, J.T.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Politics and Religion
ISSN:1755-0483
ISSN (Online):1755-0491

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