Page 642 - Sociology and You

RELIGION
Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices concerned with sacred things.
Percentage of Americans Who Think Religion Is Increasing or Losing Its Influence
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
0
1957 1967 1970 1976 1981 1984 1988 1991 1997 2000 Source: The Gallup Organization
$24,000 $21,000 $18,000 $15,000 $12,000
$9,000 $6,000 $3,000
Losing
Increasing
Losing
Increasing
4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 0.0%
Membership
14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0%
2.9%
1916 1933
1955
1998
3.2%
3.2%
2.4%
Percentage of Americans Who Believe that Religion Can Answer All of Today’s Problems
or Is Old-Fashioned
Giving as a Percentage of Income and Membership as a Percentage of U.S. Population, 1968–1998
90%
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
0%
Can Answer Old-Fashioned
Total Contributions
1968
Congregational Finances
Benevolences
1985
1998
1957 1981
1984 1986 1989
1991 1995
1998
2000
Source: The Gallup Organization.
U.S. Per Capita Income/ Per Member Giving as a Percentage of Income
A-10 Sociology Databank