I have seen and heard some statements that theology and practice among different groups within the the Episcopal Church has diverged so much that there are now essentially two different religions. Lots of anecdotal evidence, and reports from General Conventions indicate that there are differences among the leadership and delegates. However, how much does that represent the "parishoner in the pew"?
I recently learned about the Baylor Religion Survey. This 2005 survey by Gallup covered a broad sample of Americans. The questions asked people to identify their religious affiliation and identity. Using that information, I extracted data on Episcopalians/Agnlicans. Assuming that the respondents to the survey represent the parishoner, we can learn something about how diverse Episcopalians are, and how representative the delegates and press stories are of the overall view. So here are some relatively simple cross-tabs of the data in the survey.
A few notes
- The data is self-reported.
- Episcopalian is self-identified. It includes those who called themselves Episcopalians, Anglicans, Anglican Catholics and people who listed their specific congregation. This may introduce inaccuracies. The sample of Episcopalians/Anglicans is pretty small--59. The overall response rate is 46 percent. With a small sample, and a limited response rate, there is always the possibility that outliers are unusually influential, and that the sample is not really representative. So take the following tabulations with caution.
- I use the weights supplied in the data, but found very little documentation on them.
- The tables are not the greatest, but they are usable. Maybe I'll get my teenagers to show me how to fix them up pretty.
- I post this with some reservations. Note that within each category below, at least some respondents probably agreed with people on the other end of the spectrum. So don't assume too much about individuals.
- In the interest of full disclosure, I place myself firmly on the "right" as an evangelical. And after looking at these survey results, I would have to place myself even on the right side of the right.
- I previously did some number crunching comparing Episcopal Church average Sunday attendance changes with changes in population between 1992 and 2004. That information is available here.
- Comments can be sent to me at boning.brent@gmail.com.
Categorizing the data
I categorize respondents theologically as on the left, middle, or right. To do this I use the BRS question about how people describe their religious identity. These were the choices, and the number of respondents in each category for Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians. The categories I put them into are also listed. (And thus we now have really small samples when looking at Episcopalians by theological spectrum.)
-----------------------------------------
q4 please indicate the one |
term that best describes | Not
your religious identity | Epis Epis
---------------------------+-------------
born-again | 263 1 right
bible-believing | 306 4 right
charismatic | 6 .
theologically conservative | 94 8 right
evangelical | 46 3 right
fundamentalist | 17 .
theologically liberal | 159 20 left
mainline christian | 243 15 middle
pentecostal | 22 .
seeker | 58 .
religious right | 21 .
moral majority | 26 1
none of these | 349 7
|
Total | 1,610 59
-----------------------------------------
Thus, we have (after applying the weights)
variable | mean
-------------+----------
Left | .3044602
Middle | .248784
Right | .237449
No answer | .2093069
If this is representative, then the proportions of the Episcopal church are actually more even than suggested by the votes at convention. Perhaps this is an indicator of how well-organized and involved people from different locations on the theological spectrum are.
Checking the data: Church size and income
We already know some stuff about the Episcopal church. As a "reasonableness check" on the representativeness of the survey, we can compare the survey data with what we know.
Church size. A fair amount of data indicates that episcopal churches are mostly small. We thus look at the size of churches reported by respondents. (BRS Q9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Medium Large Extra Large
th_place | <100 100-299 300-799 >=800 missing
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.44 0.36 0.03 0.05 0.12
mid | 0.42 0.29 0.20 0.04 0.05
right | 0.14 0.59 0.00 0.04 0.23
|
Total | 0.34 0.41 0.08 0.04 0.13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is quite reasonable. Note that we would expect more respondents to come from larger churches than the number of churches that are large (because the larger the church, the more people in the pool of potential respondents). So this checks out pretty well.
The theological middle has a larger share in what I call the "large" churches. The theological right has a larger share in the medium sized churches.
Income. Episcopalians are reputedly more wealthy than the average American. The following table shows the household income data for Episcopalians/Anglicans and others. Indeed, Episcopalians are skewed toward the wealthier end. (BRS Q60)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
epis_ang | <=$10k $10k-20k $20k-35k $35k-50k $50k-100k $100k-$150k >$150k No response
----------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
non Epis | 0.07 0.09 0.14 0.18 0.30 0.10 0.06 0.06
Epis | 0.07 0.02 0.15 0.09 0.32 0.17 0.14 0.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These provide some indication that even though the sample is small, it is representative, at least in the aggregate.
Religious beliefs
The survey asks a number of questions about what people believe. Using the categories defined, we can compare some beliefs. Here are the responses by Episcopalians to 3 questions about fundamental beliefs.
Beliefs about God
(BRS Q21) "Which one statement comes closest to your personal beliefs about God?"
The choices were:- I have no doubst that God exist
- I believe in God, but with some doubts
- I sometimes believe in God
- I believe in a higher power or cosmic force
- I don't believe in anything beyond the physical world
- I have no opinion
th_place | No doubts Believe with Sometimes Higher power Nothing No opionon No response
doubts believe /cosmic beyond
force physical
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
left | 0.29 0.42 0.00 0.28 0.00 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.55 0.13 0.00 0.27 0.00 0.05 0.00
right | 0.73 0.08 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.04 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Beliefs about Jesus
(BRS Q24) Which one statement comes closest to your personal beliefs about Jesus
- Jesus is a fictional character
- Jesus probably existed, but he was not special
- Jesus was extraordinary person/wasn't messenger of God
- Jesus was one of many messengers or prophets of God
- Jesus is the son of God
- I have no opinion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
th_place | Ficitional Existed, but Extraordinary, One of many Son of God No opinion No response
character was not but wasn't messengers/
special messenger prophets
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
left | 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.34 0.59 0.04 0.00
mid | 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.64 0.05 0.00
right | 0.00 0.04 0.05 0.00 0.86 0.05 0.00
|
Total | 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.23 0.69 0.04 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Only 59 and 64 percent of the respondents on the left and middle respectively accept Christ as divine, compared with 85 percent of the right. I am surprised that 3 of the 19 people classified as theologically on the right do not accept Christ as the Son of God.
Beliefs about the Bible
(BRS Q20) Which one statement comes closest to your personal beliefs about the Bible
- It means exactly what it says/should be taken literally
- It is perfectly true, should not be taken literally
- The Bible contains some human error
- The Bible is an ancient book of history and legends
- I don't know
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) No response
----------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.14 0.28 0.58 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.00 0.48 0.37 0.10 0.05 0.00
right | 0.18 0.55 0.08 0.18 0.00 0.00
|
Total | 0.06 0.37 0.25 0.31 0.01 0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surprisingly, 18% of the theological right holds the Bible in low regard. Clearly the left has a very different perspective than the right about the view of the Bible.
Not surprisingly, core beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible are very different between the three groups. The supports the statement that the conflict is not all about sex.
Personal practices
Prayer
(BRS Q14f) How often did you participate in the following religious activities last month - f. Prayer meetings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | not at all 1-2 times 3-4 times 5 or more no response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.76 0.15 0.00 0.04 0.04
right | 0.58 0.19 0.04 0.06 0.13
|
Total | 0.80 0.10 0.01 0.03 0.05
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BRS Q16) About how often do you pray or meditate outside of religious services
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Never Only on Once/wk A few time/wk 1/day Several No response
certain occasions or less times a day
----------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.03 0.21 0.17 0.32 0.19 0.07 0.00
mid | 0.05 0.29 0.04 0.09 0.22 0.31 0.00
right | 0.13 0.09 0.25 0.25 0.17 0.10 0.00
|
Total | 0.07 0.20 0.15 0.23 0.20 0.16 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How little prayer! And more people in the middle prayer more frequently than people on the left or right.
Bible reading
(BRS Q15) Outside of attending religious services, about how often do you read the Bible, Koran, Torah, or other sacred book
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | never less than 1-2/yr several/yr 2-3/month weekly several no response
1/yr 1/month about wkly week
----------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.21 0.24 0.20 0.16 0.05 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.07 0.00
mid | 0.09 0.21 0.38 0.05 0.05 0.10 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.00
right | 0.22 0.18 0.25 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.11 0.06 0.04 0.00
|
Total | 0.18 0.21 0.27 0.08 0.03 0.07 0.07 0.03 0.05 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the most stunning results of the survey, to me. This is not good.
Church attendance
(BRS Q5) How often do you attend religious services?
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
th_place | never less than 1-2/yr several/yr 2-3/month weekly several no response
1/yr 1/month about wkly week
----------+------------------------------------ --------------------------------------
left | 0.09 0.12 0.03 0.29 0.07 0.05 0.07 0.27 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.05 0.00 0.06 0.31 0.04 0.09 0.17 0.29 0.00 0.00
right | 0.18 0.00 0.25 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.38 0.00 0.04
|
Total | 0.10 0.05 0.11 0.22 0.04 0.05 0.11 0.31 0.00 0.01
----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Evangelism
(BRS Q42D) How important is it to do the following.. in order to be a good person; d. Convert others to your religious faith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Very Somewhat Not very Not at all No response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.57 0.00
mid | 0.00 0.27 0.09 0.64 0.00
right | 0.00 0.65 0.17 0.18 0.00
|
Total | 0.00 0.28 0.24 0.48 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BRS Q14I) How often did you participate in the following religious activities last month - i. Witnessing/sharing your faith with friends
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Not at all 1-2 times 3-4 times 5 or more times No response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.62 0.07 0.27 0.04 0.00
mid | 0.60 0.31 0.05 0.04 0.00
right | 0.39 0.13 0.25 0.10 0.13
|
Total | 0.55 0.16 0.20 0.06 0.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BRS Q14J) How often did you participate in the following religious activities last month - j. Witnessing/sharing your faith with strangers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Not at all 1-2 times 3-4 times 5 or more times No response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.97 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.96 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00
right | 0.47 0.09 0.25 0.06 0.13
|
Total | 0.82 0.05 0.08 0.02 0.04
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This explains a lot of the comments I see on blogs about the Episcopal church not investing much in spreading the Gospel. If the average person in the pew does not consider it important (and overall, 72 percent consider it either not very or not at all important), the parishes will not invest in it.
Moral issues and behavior
Abortion
(BRS Q34E) How do you feel about abortion in the following circumstances... e. The woman does not want the child
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.07 0.11 0.29 0.54 0.00
mid | 0.21 0.13 0.44 0.18 0.05
right | 0.76 0.11 0.00 0.09 0.04
|
Total | 0.32 0.11 0.25 0.29 0.03
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This breaks my heart.
(BRS Q34D) How do you feel about abortion in the following circumstances... d. The family cannot afford the child
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.14 0.00 0.32 0.55 0.00
mid | 0.21 0.09 0.47 0.19 0.05
right | 0.71 0.09 0.00 0.20 0.00
|
Total | 0.33 0.06 0.27 0.33 0.02
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Embryonic stem cell research
(BRS Q37E) How do you feel about the following... e. Embryonic stem cell research
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.88 0.00
mid | 0.00 0.00 0.33 0.67 0.00
right | 0.08 0.19 0.35 0.34 0.04
|
Total | 0.03 0.06 0.26 0.65 0.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physician-assisted suicide
(BRS Q37D) How do you feel about the following... d. Physician-assisted suicide
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.07 0.34 0.59 0.00
mid | 0.13 0.10 0.42 0.35 0.00
right | 0.52 0.04 0.30 0.13 0.00
|
Total | 0.20 0.07 0.35 0.38 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sexual relations
(BRS Q36B) How do you feel about the following marriage and family related issues... b. Living with a partner before marriage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.03 0.19 0.77 0.00
mid | 0.09 0.28 0.13 0.50 0.00
right | 0.33 0.19 0.30 0.18 0.00
|
Total | 0.13 0.16 0.20 0.51 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BRS Q35C) How do you feel about sexual relations in the following circumstances... c. With someone other than the marriage partner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.24 0.40 0.16 0.17 0.03
mid | 0.85 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.00
right | 0.95 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
|
Total | 0.65 0.21 0.06 0.07 0.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(BRS Q35B) How do you feel about sexual relations in the following circumstances... b. Between two adults of the same sex
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.03 0.18 0.78 0.00
mid | 0.36 0.10 0.08 0.46 0.00
right | 0.62 0.29 0.04 0.00 0.04
|
Total | 0.30 0.13 0.11 0.45 0.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divorce
(BRS Q36A) How do you feel about the following marriage and family related issues... a. Divorce
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Always wrong Almost Only wrong Not wrong No response
always wrong sometimes at all
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.86 0.00
mid | 0.00 0.09 0.50 0.41 0.00
right | 0.14 0.13 0.55 0.18 0.00
|
Total | 0.04 0.07 0.38 0.51 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously, a great divergence between the different categories. I think it is the outworking of the differences in the core beliefs about God and the Bible. I am also truly amazed at the responses to question 35C, about sex with someone other than the marriage partner. One could try and defend some response by claiming that those who accepted it as not wrong were thinking of pre-marital sex, which some believe ok. (And the question could have been worded more carefully, I think.) But I doubt it, because that requires pretty hard contortions.
Social involvement
Political involvement
(BRS Q43D) In the year leading up to the 2004 presidential election, did you...write, call, or visit a public official
----------------------------------------------------------
th_place | yes no
----------+-----------------------------------------------
left | 0.42 0.58 0.00
mid | 0.67 0.33 0.00
right | 0.00 1.00 0.00
|
Total | 0.37 0.63 0.00
----------------------------------------------------------
The left is much more politically involved. Perhaps the left wields more influence than the right because of this involvement. (Episcopalian left and right also appear to be more involved than the corresponding sets of non-Episcopalians.)
Social justice
(Q42A) How important is it to do the following.. in order to be a good person; a. Actively seek social and economic justice
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Very Somewhat Not very not at all No response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.48 0.48 0.03 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.51 0.19 0.26 0.04 0.00
right | 0.59 0.32 0.09 0.00 0.00
|
Total | 0.52 0.34 0.12 0.01 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social service
(Q42) How important is it to do the following.. in order to be a good person; b. Take care of the sick and needy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
th_place | Very Somewhat Not very not at all No response
----------+---------------------------------------------------------------------
left | 0.45 0.51 0.03 0.00 0.00
mid | 0.54 0.29 0.17 0.00 0.00
right | 0.57 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00
|
Total | 0.51 0.42 0.07 0.00 0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At last, some common ground. All three categories consider taking care of the sick and needy as important. Social and economic justice is very high in all three categories, but particularly among the left and right.