Protestant Pastors’ Reaction to a Statement on Islam

2

Methodology The telephone survey of Protestant pastors was

conducted October 13-29, 2008 The calling list was randomly drawn from a list of

all Protestant churches. Up to six calls were made to reach a sampled phone number

Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church called

Responses were weighted to reflect the geographic distribution of Protestant churches

3

Methodology continued

The completed sample is 1,002 phone interviews

The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error does not exceed +3.1%

Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.

Protestant pastors were asked to indicated their level of agreement

with the following statement:

“I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.”

5

Two-thirds of Protestant pastors agree that Islam is a dangerous religion

20%10%

21%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

4% Don’t Know

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

6

Protestant pastors who consider themselves Mainline are significantly less likely to agree that Islam is a dangerous religion compared to Evangelicals

9% 9%

25%

52%

38%

16% 16%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Evangelicals

Mainline

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

Don’t Know: 5% Evangelicals, 3% Mainline

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

7

Protestant pastors whose education is a Bachelors degree or less are significantly more likely to agree compared to those with a Masters or Doctorate

7% 5%

21%

64%

25%

13%21%

37%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Bachelors or less

Masters or more

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?

Don’t Know: 4% Bachelors or less, 4% Masters or more

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

8

Among Protestant pastors the majority of Democrats strongly disagree, while the majority of Republicans strongly agree

52%

5% 6%

61%

13% 16%15%

40%

18%17%21% 25%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Democrat

Independent

Republican

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

In which party are you registered to vote or do you consider yourself to be a member?

Don’t Know: 3% of Democrats and Republicans, 4% of Independents

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

9

Overall agreement differs little by age, but Protestant pastors age 65 and older who agree do so more strongly than younger pastors

18%

58%

13%

44%

22%

42%

23%

9%

21%

7%18%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Less than 50

Ages 50-64

Ages 65+

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

What is your age?

Don’t Know: 2% Less than 50, 4% Ages 50-64, 6% Ages 65+

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

10

Overall agreement is similar across church locations, but the strength of agreement is higher among pastors in rural and smaller cities (less than 100,000)

25%

47%

9%

39%

25%

37%

25%14%

20%10%

20% 17%

51%

19%

9%17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Large City

Suburbs

Small City

Rural

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

Which of the following best represents where your church is located?

Don’t Know: 2% Large city, 4% Suburbs and Rural, 5% Small city

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

11

Protestant pastors’ political ideology reveals significant differences in agreement: Conservatives agree and Liberals disagree

69%

14%

5%9%12%

19%

29%38%

55%

7%5%

28%

78%

16%

2%2%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

StronglyDisagree

SomewhatDisagree

SomewhatAgree

StronglyAgree

Liberal/Very Liberal

Moderate

Conservative

Very Conservative

Please indicate your level of agreement with each of the following statements:I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

Which description best represents your political ideology?

Don’t Know: 2% Liberal/Very Liberal, 3% Moderate, 6% Conservative, 2% Very Conservative

I believe Islam is a dangerous religion.

Protestant Pastors’ Reaction to a Statement on Islam