wfn.org | Survey of American religious life nearing completion

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For more information contact:
James Solheim
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Episcopal News Service
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2000-120

Survey of American religious life nearing completion

by James Solheim

     (ENS) More than 40 faith groups participating in the most 
extensive study of American religious life ever attempted are 
completing their surveys and expect to announce the results in 
February.

     As the survey nears an end, Prof. David Roozen of  the 
Hartford Institute for Religion Research said at a Chicago 
meeting that 95 percent of all worshippers in the country will be 
represented in the study, called Faith Communities Today (FACT). 

     The Chicago meeting marks a transition from data gathering 
to utilization, said Roozen, co-director of the project. "The 
hard work is over, now our fun begins," he told representatives 
of the coalition of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i 
congregations. "Analysis of the extensive data will occupy 
scholars for months, even years."

     Prof. Carl Dudley, the other co-director and also a teacher 
at Hartford, expressed the hope that the study would provide the 
most useful data on religion in America ever collected. He called 
it "one of the most exciting experiences" in his life--especially 
the inter-faith aspects.

     Roozen agreed, calling it "an incredibly rich experience." 
The underlying purpose, he told participants in the Chicago 
meeting, is to increase the capacity of faith groups to do 
research--and to use that research in some practical ways. He 
said that 28 surveys, each aimed for about 500 returns, are being 
conducted in the 40 faith groups, using a "core questionnaire" of 
about 190 questions. Some groups added additional questions 
seeking specific information from their group.

     A side benefit, Roozen is convinced, will be a deeper 
understanding and appreciation of the experience of other faith 
traditions. "We often see ourselves better in comparison with 
others," he said. "We might even learn from each other." But 
final interpretation of the results will be left to participants.

     Preliminary analysis of the responses shows that most of the 
congregations consider themselves "spiritually vital and alive" 
and that nearly half of those responding so far report that the 
number of regularly participating adults has grown since 1995. 
And well over half are reporting that youth are involved in the 
religious life of congregations.

     Researchers and educators from the 40 faith groups have been 
working on the project for nearly five years. Many of them are 
convinced that the FACT data will help them develop strategies 
and programs.

     Dudley thinks that the data might help answer questions 
about whether faith groups are open to change, especially how 
they grow and adapt. 

     The survey is funded in part by the Lilly Endowment.

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of 
News and Information. J. Martin Bailey is media consultant to the 
project.