By Nicole Neroulias
Religion News Service
(RNS) A new study reporting that white Americans without college degrees are dropping out of church faster than their higher-educated counterparts has several possible explanations, researchers said.
The study, by University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox, found that since the 1970s, white Americans with no more than a high school diploma left the pews twice as fast as other Americans.
Other research has connected higher education levels with lower religious belief, and less attraction to literal interpretations of the Bible. People with more education, the theory goes, are more skeptical of religious claims.
But when it comes to religious behavior, college-educated whites seem to have more time, money and motivation to attend religious services, Wilcox said. In other words, lower-educated people may have to work weekend shifts, or can't afford to spend money on gas or the collection plate.
"College-educated Americans are more likely to have the financial resources and the stable marriages that make a church-going lifestyle seem to fit," he said. "Financial limitations and a broader malaise among working-class and poor Americans -- the sense that the American Dream is slipping away from their reach -- may be implicated in this retreat from religion."
His study, "No Money, No Honey, No Church: The Deinstitutionalization of Religious Life Among the White Working Class," was presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Las Vegas.
Wilcox said he focused on white church-goers because African-Americans and Latinos don't have the same kinds of education disparities. Researchers haven't examined possible regional differences yet, or which denominations have been hit hardest by the trend.
Using data from the General Social Survey and the National Survey of Family Growth, Wilcox found an across-the-board drop since the 1970s in those who attend religious services at least once a month:
- Among college-educated whites between ages 25 and 44, attendance slipped from 51 percent to 46 percent.
- Among moderately educated whites, attendance dropped from 50 percent to 37 percent.
- Among the least educated, attendance fell the most, from 38 percent to 23 percent.
His findings are consistent with the conclusions recently reached by University of Nebraska sociologist Philip Schwadel, who also examined GSS data. Schwadel's study, published in the Review of Religious Research, found that with each additional year of education, the likelihood of attending religious services increased 15 percent, and the likelihood of occasional Bible reading increased by 9 percent.
"It certainly could be the case that college grads are attending church to keep with the Joneses, and meet the Joneses. An insurance agent, for instance, may attend church to make business contacts," Wilcox said.
"But, here, I think the biggest non-religious motivation for many college grads has to do with kids. These helicopter parents plug their kids into good schools, sports, violin, and church -- all in the hopes of maximizing their kids' opportunities to do well in life."
Yet it's the less-educated, lower-income families who could really use the social services, networking opportunities, spiritual guidance and safety nets that religious communities offer, he said.
"This research suggests that religious communities need to do more to reach out and engage working-class Americans," Wilcox concluded.
John Green, an expert on religion and public life at the University of Akron, said many religious institutions are finding it hard to reach lower socio-economic classes.
"Churches in poor neighborhoods are often less effective because they don't have resources, while the suburban churches have resources, but are far away from the less well off," he said. "Less well-educated people may not have the time to be active in a church, and they may not feel comfortable because they are less well off."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.