Survey: Republicans, Democrats divided on impact of religion

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Kevin Seraaj
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Religion survey
“Wide partisan differences over the impact of major institutions on the country.” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center
Kevin Seraaj
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(RNS) Do churches and other religious organizations have a positive impact on the way things are going in the United States?

Americans are divided on that point, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Monday (July 10) that shows they align along predictable party lines.

Overall, a majority of Americans (59 percent) see religion as a positive, compared to 26 percent who say it has a negative impact on the way things are going in the U.S., according to Pew. Those numbers have held fairly steady in surveys since 2010.

“Wide partisan differences over the impact of major institutions on the country.” Graphic courtesy of Pew Research Center

Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of Republicans or those who lean Republican said churches and religious organizations have a positive impact, with 14 percent saying that impact is negative, according to Pew.

Meanwhile, Democrats are split: Half of those who are or lean Democrat believe religious institutions have a positive impact, according to the survey, while 36 percent said they have a negative impact.

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