Tables and Figures to Accompany CORRELATES OF BELIEF IN REINCARNATION AMONG CHRISTIAN WORSHIPERS John P. Marcum Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.

) jmarcum@ctr.pcusa.org Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, San Francisco, August 2004 Unless otherwise specified, the source for all data is the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, 2001 _______________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT National surveys in the United States have found that one in five respondents believe in reincarnation. This presentation extends that research by focusing on belief in reincarnation among Christian worshipers in the United States using data from the 2001 U.S. Congregational Life Survey. A total of 1,294 respondents, out of 122,183 in the national random sample of the USCLS, completed a supplemental page with a question on belief in reincarnation. A total of 20% of these respondents indicated such a belief. Worshipers who believe in reincarnation, on average, attend worship with less frequency and participate less often in other church activities; participate less often in private devotional activities; and are less likely to hold congregational leadership positions. Belief in reincarnation is highest among Catholics, lowest among conservative Protestants, with mainline Protestants intermediate. A higher proportion of men than women, and of those below age 30 and above age 70, believe in reincarnation. Belief in reincarnation is inversely related to annual household income, but not to education. A multivariate analysis reveals that differences by denominational groupings remain but those associated with church attendance and time spent in devotional activities do not, after controlling for age, income, education, and sex. Table 1. Belief in Reincarnation 2001 USCLS Q. Which of the following do you believe in? Reincarnation % Yes Unsure No Total 27 29 44 100 N 243 264 398 913 % 20 22 33 24 N 243 264 398 289 Year 1998 2000 2003 2004 % 23 20 27 20 Table 2. Belief in Reincarnation Harris Polls

No response

99 1,194*

*10 respondents from non-Christian congregations were excluded

Figure 1. Belief in Reincarnation by Frequency of Worship Attendance

25% 27% 24% 42% 32%

Every week Usually every week 2-3 times a month Once a month Less than once a month

2= 20.2 0.1<p < .05

0%

20%

40%

Percent responding yes to belief in reincarnation Figure 2. Belief in Reincarnation by Participation in Other Congregational Activities

Fellowship or social group

28% 24% Does not participate

2 = 8.2, p < .05 2 = 21.7 p < .001 2 = 23.8, p = .001

35%

Bible study or prayer group

28% 23%

Participates

Sunday school

29% 19% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Percent responding yes Figure 3. Belief in Reincarnation by Time Spent in Devotional Activities
Never Hardly ever Occasionally 36% 24% 27% Once a week A few times a week Every day 35% 40%

28% 23%

38%

2 = 24.3 p < .01

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Percent responding yes

Figure 4. Belief in Reincarnation by Congregational Leadership Activities

Religious education teacher Choir member Leader of a group Member of committee Member of governing board 0% 28% 12% 27% 27% 27% 21% 28% 18% 27% 19% 20% 40% Is not Is

2 = 11.5, p < .01 2 = 0.1, n.s. 2 = 4.8, 0.1 < p < .05 2 = 4.2, n.s. 2 = 2.6, n.s.

Percent responding yes Figure 5. Belief in Reincarnation by Opinion on Religious Relativism Q: All the worlds religions are equally good ways for someone to find ultimate truth
30% Strongly agree 31% 25% 24% 13% Agree Neutral/unsure Disagree Strongly disagree

2 = 102.2 p < .001

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Percent responding yes Figure 6. Belief in Reincarnation by Willingness to Talk about Ones Faith
Do not have faith 22% 18% 27% 36% Do not like to talk about my faith Find it hard to express my faith At ease expressing my faith Seek opportunities to express my faith

14%

2 = 20.5 p < .01

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Percent responding yes

Figure 7. Belief in Reincarnation by Formal Education

8th grade or less

39% 36%
Some high school

29%
26% 22% 26% 19%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Completed high school

Trade certificate
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
50%

2 = 20.2 n.s.

Percent responding yes Figure 8. Belief in Reincarnation by Race Ethnicity

Asian Black Hispanic Indian White Other
52%

40% 26% 42% 17% 24%

2 = 6.6, p < .05 2 = 0.1, n.s. 2 = 14.5, p < .001 2 = 2.6, n.s. 2 = 20.4, p < .001 2 = 7.4, p < .05

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Percent responding yes Figure 9. Belief in Reincarnation by Sex

30% 24% Male Female

2 = 14.9 p = .001

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Percent responding yes

Figure 10. Belief in Reincarnation by Age

38% 27% 24% 23% 22% 32% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 70+ 60-69 50-59 40-49 30-39 <30

2 = 19.0 p < .05

Percent responding yes Figure 11. Belief in Reincarnation by Total Annual Household Income
21% 18% 25% 30% 36% 33% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
$100,000 or more $75,000-$99,999 $50,000-$74,999 $25,000-$49,999 $10,000-$24,999 <$10,000

2 = 26.1 p < .01

Percent responding yes Figure 12. Belief in Reincarnation by Denominational Group

31% 24% 17% Catholic Mainline Protestant Conservative Protestant 25% 30% 35%

2 = 20.1 p < .001

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

Percent responding yes

Figure 12. Belief in Reincarnation by Other Beliefs

18% 29% 10% 29% 5% 31% 14% 28% 17% 28% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Hell

2 = 63.2, p < .001 2 = 60.5, p < .001 2 = 109.5, p < .001 2 = 19.6, p = .001 2 = 15.0, p < .01

Angels

Life after death

Heaven

No Yes

Miracles

Percent responding yes Table 3. Logistic Regression Analysis for Belief in Reincarnation Independent Variable

Model 1 b p .03 .24 .25 .18

Model 2 b .34 .01 -.06 -.10 .92 .58 p .03 .09 .22 .10 <.001 .04

Model 3 b .35 .01 -.07 -.09 .91 .56 -.05 p .03 .10 .19 .11 <.001 .04 .45

Model 4 b .34 .01 -.06 -.10 p .04 .10 .22 .10

Year born Sex (female) Education Annual HH income Denominational group Catholic Mainline Protestant Conservative Prot. (omitted) Worship attendance Time spent in devotions Constant 2 p

.34 .01 -.06 -.08

1.00 <.001 .64 .02 -.05 -.03 -1.8 30.5 <.001 .43 .56

-1.4 9.5 .05

-2.2 28.5 <.001

-1.8 28.9 <.001