When It Comes to Religious Nationalism, the US is Special
Findings from a recent Pew Research Center global study
Religious nationalism manifests differently across the globe, with some surprising patterns emerging from cross-national research. The concept of religious nationalism encompasses both legal frameworks and cultural values — the US stands out among high-income countries when it comes to believing the Christian Bible should influence laws (still, only 6% of Americans qualify as religious nationalists).
In this episode of Cross Tabs, Farrah spoke with Pew Research Center experts Laura Silver and Jonathan Evans about their groundbreaking study on religious nationalism across 36 countries. They discussed their methodological approach to studying such a complex topic across different religions and cultures, the nuances of what it means to be a "religious state" while maintaining democracy, and the stark political polarization in America compared to other nations.
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Episode Resources
Pew’s Religious Nationalism Report
This cross-national survey conducted in 36 countries examined how religious nationalism manifests across different religions and nations, finding the U.S. stands out among high-income countries in believing religious texts should influence national laws.
Pew’s India Religion Study
This extensive study with 30,000 respondents across six major religious groups found that while Indians broadly value pluralism and diversity conceptually, they prefer living segregated lives with limited intermarriage across religious boundaries.
Pew’s study of Christian Nationalism in the US
This longitudinal study revealed a consistent 5% of Americans hold favorable views of Christian nationalism despite increased media attention, while 45% of Americans have heard of the term.
Pew’s Western Europe Religious Study
This 2017 study documented significant secularization trends across Western Europe, providing context for why European countries show lower rates of religious nationalism compared to the United States.
Pew’s study of American Views on China
This research demonstrates how Americans broadly hold unfavorable views of China with minimal partisan differences but show significant partisan divisions when asked about specific policy approaches toward China.
Our Guests
Jonathan Evans is a Senior Researcher on the Religion team at Pew Research Center, approaching nine years with the organization. His work focuses primarily on international religious research, including leading a major project involving 30,000 interviews in India examining the intersection of religion with public life. Evans specializes in studying how religious beliefs, practices, and identities intersect with other aspects of people's lives across different cultural contexts.
Laura Silver is an Associate Director on the Global Attitudes team at Pew Research Center with eight years of experience conducting cross-national surveys. She specializes in studying global phenomena in comparative contexts and has extensive expertise in American views of China. Silver oversees large cross-national surveys spanning dozens of countries, helping to provide context for how different global phenomena impact countries in varying ways.
Your Host
Farrah Bostic is the founder of The Difference Engine, a strategic research and innovation consultancy. Drawing on her extensive background in research and strategy, she examines how power dynamics and data patterns shape both democratic institutions and market environments, bringing a sharp analytical perspective to the intersection of politics, data, and business.
Her incisive questioning style and ability to connect political movements with business implications makes Cross Tabs essential listening for political analysts, business leaders, and engaged citizens seeking to understand the forces shaping our political and economic landscapes.
Learn more about Farrah’s experience helping B2B and B2C companies across various industries turn audience insights into effective strategies at thedifferenceengine.co, and be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn if you’d like to discuss how The Difference Engine can help.
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