Restructuring of American Religion: Further Evidence*

Abstract

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.

Quelle guerre culturelle ?

“…Prolongeant l'idée du sociologue Robert Wuthnow (1988 selon laquelle les anciennes divisions religieuses entre les protestants, les catholiques et les juifs aux États-Unis ont été supplantées par une division idéologique entre les conservateurs et les libéraux, il affi rme que les débats sur les valeurs, principes et enjeux politiques opposent désormais deux groupes relativement homogènes. D'un côté, les orthodoxes culturels s'appuient sur une autorité transcendante pour défi nir ce qui est bien et mal, acceptable ou non.…”

Culture wars and enduring American dilemmas

“…Davis and Robinson 1996;Wuthnow 1996). But their views do not clearly differ with regard to the values and moral orientations that are prominent in American culture.…”

“…S. Miller and Hoffman 1999;C. Smith et al 1997;Wolfe 1998;Wuthnow 1996). Only small percentages of Americans are consistently orthodox or progressive on such issues as abortion, stem cell research, the morning-after pill, gay marriage, and gay adoption (Pew Research Center 2006b).…”

Advancing Larger Democracy in Indonesia through Islamic Print Media

“…Borrowing the perspective of Wuthnow,18 media has contributed to a so-called "restructuring of religious beliefs", reconstructing and remaking religious identity, understanding and expression to be oriented to the "self " rather than "religious institutions" which are outside of the "self ". While scholars such as David Morley, Kevin Robins and Rosalind I.J.…”