For Goodness' Sake: Why So Many Want Religion To Play a Greater Role in American Life.

This report gives the results of a study that probes how typical individuals think about religion, faith, and personal morality. Alongside their belief in the power of religion to help individuals become better people, most people are also instinctively wary about injecting religion directly into politics, the public schools, and public life in general. The controversial question of prayer in the schools was probed more deeply than other studies by asking people to select their ideal school prayer policy. Given a full range of choices, over half of the people questioned think a moment of silence is the best way to deal with prayer in the classroom. The national survey was conducted with 1507 members of the general public and includes the views of Evangelical Christians, Catholics, Jews, and nonreligious individuals. Following an Introduction, the report contains nine chapters: (1) "The Blessings of Religion: Views on How Religion Could Improve American Life"; (2) "As the Twig Is Bent: Views on Religion in the Schools"; (3) "We Gather Together: Views on Religion and Social Interaction"; (4) "Good Government: Views on Religion and Elected Officials"; (5) "The More, the Better? Views on Religious Groups in Politics"; (6) "Evangelical Christians: Evangelical Views on Religion in Politics, the Schools and Social Life"; (7)" Some Beg to Differ: Views of Jewish and Nonreligious Americans on Religion and Public Life"; (8) "The Distinctive Voices of Journalists, Christian Leaders and Elected Officials"; and (9) "An Afterword" (Deborah Wadsworth). Includes 7 tables and 10 notes. Contains methodology information. (BT)