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Attitudes towards Religious Pluralism: Measurements and Consequences

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, One Bear Place 97326, Baylor University Waco, Texas, TX 76798-7326, USA, Buster_Smith{at}Baylor.edu

English

Religious pluralism has long been a trait of American society but never to the extent seen in the past 40 years. Data from the 2000 Religion and Politics Survey are analyzed to test what social factors are most likely to cause acceptance and rejection of other religious traditions. Factor analyses of eight questions regarding attitudes toward other religions define two distinct measures of pluralistic worldviews. While exposure to foreign religious ideas is an important part of an inclusive worldview, denomination and religious activity are stronger predictors of exclusivity. Further findings show the importance of these views in influencing religious, political and social actions.

French

Le pluralisme religieux a longtemps été une caractéristique de la société américaine mais jamais au point atteint durant les 40 dernières années. Les données de l’enqute ‘‘Religion and Politics Survey’’ de 2000 sont analysées pour tester les facteurs sociaux les plus susceptibles de susciter l’acceptation et le rejet d’autres traditions religieuses. Les analyses factorielles de huit questions concernant les attitudes envers d’autres religions définissent deux mesures distinctes de visions du monde pluralistes. Alors que l’exposition aux idées religieuses étrangères constitue une partie importante d’une vision du monde inclusive, la confession et l’activité religieuse sont des prédicteurs forts de l’exclusivité. Des résultats plus approfondis montrent l’importance de ces visions en terme d’influence sur les actions religieuses, politiques et sociales.

Key Words: exclusivism • inclusivism • pluralism • religious attitudes

Social Compass, Vol. 54, No. 2, 333-353 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0037768607077055


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