A new post-election survey finds perceptions of President Obama’s religious beliefs, potential conflicts between those identifying with the Tea Party and white evangelicals, and attitudes about Islam are emerging religious issues that promise to shape the 2012 elections in new ways. The 2010 post-election American Values Survey was conducted by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in cooperation with The Brookings Institution.

1. Public
Religion
Research
Institute
Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO
Daniel Cox, Director of Research
Old Alignments, Emerging Fault Lines:
Religion in the 2010 Election & Beyond
An Analysis of the Post-Election American Values Survey

2. The 2010 Election and Aftermath
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines
Stable Religious Alignments
Modest Direct Influence of Religion
2

3. Stable Religious Alignments in 2010
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 3
47
71
56
56
23
26
42
18
34
35
68
57
0 20 40 60 80 100
Total
White Evangelical
White mainline
White Catholic
Minority Christian
Unaffiliated
Religious Vote 2010
Republican candidate Democratic candidate

4. Influence of Religion Mostly Unchanged
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 4
6
73
8
13
Role of Faith and Religious Values in Vote
Larger role
Same role
Smaller role
Does not play a role

5. Most Important Issue in 2010 Election
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 5
47
19
16
5 4 3 3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
The economy Health care Size and role
of
government
Iraq and
Afghanistan
Immigration Same-sex
marriage
Abortion
Most Important Issue to Vote

6. Second Most Important Issue
in 2010 Election
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 6
40
27
17
8
3 2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Health care Size and role of
government
Iraq and
Afghanistan
Immigration Same-sex
marriage
Abortion
Second Most Important Issue to Vote
Among those who said economy most important…

7. What Americans Heard in Church
Before the Election
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 7
14
11
34
13 11
17
6
11
31
13
9
56
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Health care reform Proper role and size of
government
Abortion
Hearing about Election Issues in Church
Among those attending at least a few times a month...
Total White mainline White evangelical Catholic

8. Feelings about the Election
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 8
30
54
6 4
1
22
59
10
5
11
24
46
22
5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Excited Satisfied Disappointed Worried Angry
Feelings about Election Outcome
Among voters...
Tea Party Republican Democrat

9. Most Important Priorities for Obama and
Democrats in Congress
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 9
40
30
11
8
5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Ensure health
care is fully
funded
Cut taxes for
Americans
making less
$250K
Pass economic
stimulus bill
Pass
comprehensive
immigration
reform
Pass climate
change
legislation
Top Priorities for Obama and Congressional Democrats
Among Democratic Voters

10. Most Important Priorities for GOP
Congress
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 10
36
29
17
8
6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Repeal health
care reform law
Balance federal
budget
Cut taxes for all
Americans
Investigate
Obama
administration
Cut spending on
social services
Top Priorities for GOP Congress
Among Republican Voters

11. EMERGING FAULT LINES
Obama’s Religion Dilemma
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 11

12. Views of President Obama’s Religious Beliefs
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines
12
28
16
35
9
Among General Population…
Very similar
Somewhat similar
Somewhat
different
Very different
Don't know
9
26
18
38
9
Among Whites…
12

13. Impact of Views of President Obama’s
Religious Beliefs on Favorability
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines
24
51
39
17
7
32
43
47
39
13
17
3
7
23
27
25
3
6
21
51
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Total
Very similar
Somewhat similar
Somewhat different
Very different
Favorability of Obama
Very favorable Mostly favorable Mostly unfavorable Very unfavorable
13

14. EMERGING FAULT LINES
Potential Tensions in the GOP Coalition
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 14

15. Different Factors Motivating Vote
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 15
37
25
22
11
28
37
29
5
27
25
27
14
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
To Help the GOP win
control of Congress
To Oppose President
Obama
Against Washington
in general
About local issues
Was your vote mostly...
Among Voters
Republican Tea Party White evangelical

16. Priorities for Republicans in Congress
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 16
36
29
17
8
6
41
23
18
4
9
32
40
14
8
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Repeal health
care reform law
Balance federal
budget
Cut taxes for all
Americans
Investigate
Obama
administration
Cut spending on
social services
Priorities for GOP Congress
Among all
Republican Tea Party White Evangelical

17. Tensions over Discrimination, Race, and
Equal Opportunity
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 17
41
37
41
46
38
50
58 58
64
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Discrimination against women
no longer problem
Minorities get too much
government attention
Not a problem if some have
more chances in life
Issues of Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
Total White Evangelical Tea Party

18. EMERGING FAULT LINES
Attitudes Towards Islam
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 18

19. Islam and American Values
Percent who agree:
The values of Islam, the
Muslim religion, are at
odds with American
Values.
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 19
45
36
44
49
51
31
44
46
38
48
30
43
67
66
28
45
47
53
57
-10 10 30 50 70
Total
18-29
30-49
50-64
65+
Black
Hispanic
White
College graduate
Not college graduate
Democrat
Independent
Republican
Tea Party
Unaffiliated
Minority Christian
White mainline
Catholic
White evangelical

20. EMERGING FAULT LINES
American Exceptionalism and Foreign Policy
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 20

21. American Exceptionalism
by Religious Tradition
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 21
58
32
53
54
67
83
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Total
Unaffiliated
White Mainline
Catholics
Minority Christians
White Evangelicals
God has granted America a special role in human history.
% Agreeing

22. American Exceptionalism and Foreign Policy
Old Alignments, Emerging Religious Fault Lines 22
52
55
26
42
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Best way to ensure peace through military
strength
Torture can be justified
American Exceptionalism and Foreign Policy
Among whites...
God granted U.S. special role No special role

23. Old Alignments, Emerging Fault Lines:
Religion in the 2010 Election & Beyond
An Analysis of the Post-Election American Values Survey