Relig06.zip

Key Timing: This survey was conducted in the middle of a tumultuous year:

It followed the intense debate over immigration reform and the large-scale pro-immigration protests earlier in the spring.

It occurred during ongoing and deeply divisive wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which often had religious dimensions.

It preceded the 2006 midterm elections, where dissatisfaction with the Iraq War led to a significant shift in power to the Democratic Party.

Core Topics Explored: The survey likely delved into:

The intersection of faith and political issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, and end-of-life care.

Public perception of the influence of evangelical Christian groups on the Republican party and national policy.

Attitudes towards religious conservatism and its role in shaping law and culture.

Views on religious liberty, free speech, and the "culture war" debates.

Why It's Useful: This dataset serves as a crucial benchmark for:

Researchers tracking long-term trends in the politicization of religion and the rise of the "nones" (religiously unaffiliated).

Historians studying the political and social climate of the Bush 43 era.

Analysts comparing past and present views on the role of morality in public life.

Access: The full data set, toplines, and analysis report can be found in the archives of the Pew Research Center's website. Searching for "July 2006 Religion and Public Life Survey" will yield the correct materials.