Information Alert: God or Government?
Victoria Cobb, President
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Last week the media made much about a recently released study that found people in the U.S. are drifting away from religion and becoming more secular. The study found that those Americans claiming no religion has nearly doubled since 1990. Not surprisingly this trend is especially true for young Americans, where one study finds that only one-quarter young adults regularly attend a worship service.
An analysis of the report appeared in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal, and was written by Dr. Brad Wilcox, a member The Family Foundation’s Marriage Commission member. When we are not utilizing his expertise, Dr. Wilcox also serves as a sociology professor at the University of Virginia. In addition, we’ve had him speak to our 2008 Lobby Day, our 2008 Board of Directors Retreat and to the General Assembly House Education Committee in 2009.
Dr. Wilcox’ article outlines the inverse relationship between size and scope of government and the religious observation of Americans. Basically, the more folks turn to the government to provide all of their needs (Scandinavia, etc.), the less they need to turn to the church. Anyone who has fallen on hard times knows that the blow is softer when cushioned by a loving and supportive church community. While it might have been good enough for Paul and his cohorts to “sell their possessions and goods and give to anyone as he had need,” today this wonderful human experience requiring self-sacrifice and a sense of community is less desirable if the government can provide “cradle to the grave” health care, education and housing.
According to Wilcox, Another driving force for the reduction in religious participation is the retreat from marriage. Wilcox says, “Nothing brings women and especially men into the pews like marriage and parenthood, as they seek out the religious, moral and social support provided by a congregation upon starting a family of their own. But because growing numbers of young adults are now postponing or avoiding marriage and childbearing, they are also much less likely to end up in church on any given Sunday.”
Combine these findings with a study we co-released with the Family Research Council in December 2008 that showed children have fewer problems at school and home when they frequently attend religious services. Coauthored by Drs. Nicholas Zill[1] and Philip Fletcher [2], this research found that religious attendance had an effect on the likelihood of repeating a grade level, having their parents contacted by school for behavioral issues, diminished social development and much more. These differences held up even after controlling for family income and poverty, low parent education levels, and race and ethnicity.
Consequently, bigger government means less religious participation and less religious attendance means behavioral and educational challenges for children. As we continue on the road to the great welfare state, most Americans have no idea of the consequences this retreat from God will bring.
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[1] Dr. Nicholas Zill is the founding president of Child Trends and the former vice president of Westat, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
[2] Dr. Philip Fletcher is a research psychologist at Westat.