U.S. and Europe Show Opposite Trends
Religious Attendance Rises with Education in the U.S.
A new analysis of the 2022–2023 Cooperative Election Study, involving nearly 85,000 American respondents, challenges the widespread belief that education and religious observance are negatively correlated. Contrary to the stereotype that highly educated people are less religious, the data reveal a modest but clear positive relationship between educational attainment and weekly religious attendance in the United States.
According to the findings, 23% of high school graduates attend weekly religious services. That rate rises to 30% among those with graduate degrees. The pattern holds across higher education levels, suggesting a consistent upward trend. These results contradict narratives popularized by New Atheism and lingering interpretations of Marxist critiques that frame religion as a crutch for the uneducated.
Europe Shows a Reverse Pattern
The European Social Survey’s 2023–2024 data, drawn from 24 countries and around 40,000 respondents, tells a different story. In Europe, the most religiously active group comprises individuals with the lowest educational attainment—those with only primary education or none. Weekly attendance drops steadily as education levels rise.
While those with post-secondary education report about 10–12% attendance, the rate for the least educated is significantly higher. A slight increase is observed among individuals with graduate degrees, but it is minor and does not reverse the broader trend. This negative correlation appears steepest in Greece, Poland, Ireland, and Italy.
National Variations Highlight Cultural Differences
Country-level breakdowns within Europe show steep declines in religious attendance with rising education in some nations, while others, like Austria, Belgium, and Spain, show more moderate negative correlations. Importantly, no European country displays a statistically significant positive relationship between education and religious observance.
In contrast, when broken down by U.S. state, none exhibit a negative correlation. States in the Northeast, such as Massachusetts and New York, show flat trends, but not declines. The consistency of the U.S. pattern reinforces the stark difference in how religion and education intersect on each continent.
Supporters and Detractors Respond to the Data
Supporters of the findings argue they debunk persistent myths about the irreligiosity of the educated. They view the U.S. data as evidence of a nuanced relationship between intellect and faith. Detractors, however, question cultural bias and point to Europe as a better model of secular progress. They argue the American data may reflect regional or institutional religious influences rather than genuine spiritual conviction.
Source:
Does Education Have the Same Impact on Church Attendance in Europe and the U.S.?
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