Go Forth and Multiply: Revisiting Religion and Fertility in the United States, 1984-2008

Journal Title: Religions - Year 2011, Vol 2, Issue 4

Abstract

Many studies on the fertility differential by religion have considered both Catholics and Protestants to be equally homogenous groups. Contrary to these studies, we contend that Protestant fertility must be studied in the context of heterogeneous groups. Specifically, conservative Protestantism, with its beliefs about artificial birth control mirroring Catholic teaching, should be examined separately from other Protestant traditions. Using data from the General Social Survey we find that conservative Protestants and Catholics had about the same level of fertility, while mainline Protestants have a fertility rate that is significantly lower than that of Catholics. We also examine the changes in these differences over time.

Authors and Affiliations

Casey Borch, Matthew West and Gordon Gauchat

Keywords

Related Articles

Erich Auerbach and His "Figura": An Apology for the Old Testament in an Age of Aryan Philology

Auerbach‘s goal in writing ―Figura‖ and Mimesis was the rejection of Aryan philology and Nazi barbarism, based on racism, chauvinism and the mythologies of Blood, Volk and Soil, which eliminated the Old Testament from...

The Mirror: Advice on Presence and Awareness (dran pa dang shes bzhin gyi gdams pa me long ma)

“The Mirror: Advice on the Presence of Awareness” (dran pa dang shes bzhin gyi gdams pa me long ma) is a short text that describes the essence of the Dzogchen teaching (rdzogs chen, total perfection). Concerning the wa...

Protocol of Taste and See: A Feasibility Study of a Church-Based, Healthy, Intuitive Eating Programme

Obesity treatment remains a high global priority. Evidence suggests holistic approaches, which include a religious element, are promising. Most research is from the USA, but recent evidence suggests a need within the U...

Spirituality and Creativity in Coping, Their Association and Transformative Effect: A Qualitative Enquiry

While the beneficial effects on mental health of spirituality and creativity as separate entities have been well documented, little attention has been given to the interactive effect of the two constructs in coping. Re...

“One Should Have Two Homelands”: Discord and Hope in Soma Morgenstern’s Sparks in the Abyss

Soma Morgenstern’s three-part novel Sparks in the Abyss, written between 1930 and 1943, exudes a spirit of serenity and optimism at the same time that its narrative is structured by repeated scenes of conflict and viol...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP25210
  • DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/rel2040469
  • Views 388
  • Downloads 15

How To Cite

Casey Borch, Matthew West and Gordon Gauchat (2011). Go Forth and Multiply: Revisiting Religion and Fertility in the United States, 1984-2008. Religions, 2(4), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-25210