Conflicted Religionists: Measuring Political Backlash on Salient Issues

Scholars have pointed to “political backlash” as a key reason for why people leave religion in the United States. This study adds growing body of work that emphasizes backlash localized conditions, rather than national-level phenomena, by demonstrating importance conflict on salient issues within churches. Using data from Baylor Religion Survey, author exploits unique set items analyze what he calls “conflicted religionists”—those who experience attitudinal with their churches—and measures two issues: same-sex marriage and abortion. The finds there is considerable proportion conflicted religionists probability experiencing varies drastically across different groups sample. In line past work, demonstrates significantly associated lower church attendance. He concludes discussion possible pathways available religionists.