April 23, 2024
In a recent Pew Research report, Americans indicated more positive feelings toward a majority of religious groups in the country. Though maintaining a lukewarm 61 on the “Mean thermometer ratings,” evangelical Christians were the only group not feeling more of the love.
Participants responded with a scale of 1 to 100 on a “feeling thermometer” how they perceived religious groups. Muslims and Atheists tested “coolest,” at 48 and 50, respectively. However, those marked increases from temperatures of 40 and 41 in a similar survey conducted in June 2014. Jews tested highest at 67 degrees, up from 63, followed by Catholics (66, up from 62) and Mainline Protestants (65, from 62).
Respondents’ opinions varied according to other factors. Those younger gave warmer feelings toward Muslims than older Americans, for example. In the 18-29 age range, Muslims received a moderate 58 temperature. Older groups averaged a 45. Atheists fared slightly better in the 30-49 group, scoring 53. That favorability dropped among those older, however, with the group getting a 45 in the 50-64 age range and 44, lower than Muslims, among those 65 years and older.
Conversely, Evangelical Christians scored in the mid-to-upper 60s with the older age ranges. Interestingly, that group fared slightly better among 18-29-year-olds (59) than with 30-49-year-olds (57).
The survey, conducted Jan. 9-23, compiled the responses of 4,248 adults.
