Americans Feel Most Connected to Local Religious Institutions

Religion Today | Published: Mar 05, 2013

Americans Feel Most Connected to Local Religious Institutions

More than one-third of Americans say they feel "very connected" to their local church or religious institution, according to a new survey from Rasmussen Reports, Christianity Today reports. The survey's participants were asked to describe how connected they felt to nine governmental and nongovernmental institutions, including a "local church or religious organization," "local charity," "local government," "federal government," a "political party," and "local advocacy group." More than half of those surveyed (54 percent) said they felt at least somewhat connected to their local religious institution -- by far the institution with the strongest feelings of connection. Only 12 percent said they felt "very connected" either to local charities or local recreational groups, which both ranked second. "Nothing else comes close" to religious institutions, Rasmussen said. "Government and politics are near the bottom of the list." A separate study released by Rasmussen in February found that, beyond family, 35 percent of Americans say their primary allegiance is to their church, while 31 percent said it was to their country.



Americans Feel Most Connected to Local Religious Institutions