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发帖数: 9485 | 1 http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2166/mormons-mormonism-mitt-romney-
These are among the findings of a comprehensive survey by the Pew Research
Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life of more than 1,000 Mormons across
the country - the first of its kind ever published by a non-LDS research
organization. Previous studies, including the Pew Forum's 2007 U.S.
Religious Landscape Survey, have found that Mormons make up slightly less
than 2% of the U.S. public. | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 2 Entitled “Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their
Place in Society,” the survey was conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 16,
2011 among a national sample of 1,019 respondents who identified themselves
as Mormons. The results validate a number of long-held stereotypes (most
American Mormons are white, well-educated, politically conservative and
religiously observant) while providing a few interesting surprises (care for
the poor and needy is high on the list of LDS priorities, while drinking
coffee and watching R-rated movies aren’t as taboo among the rank and file
as you might think).
“While this survey comes amid a contentious election campaign, it is not
solely or even chiefly about politics,” said Luis Lugo, Pew Research Center
director, in the published survey’s preface. “Rather, we hope that it
will contribute to a broader public understanding of Mormons and Mormonism
at a time of great interest in both.”
For example, in one very interesting section of the new survey, respondents
were asked several questions about what is essential to being a good Mormon.
According to the survey, 80 percent said “believing Joseph Smith saw God
the Father and Jesus Christ” is essential to being a good Mormon, 73
percent said “working to help the poor,” 51 percent said “regular Family
Home Evenings,” 49 percent said “not drinking coffee and tea” and 32
percent said “not watching R-rated movies. | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 3 “To be honest, I found the strong sentiment that ‘working to help the poor
’ is essential to being a good Mormon refreshing and a little surprising,”
said David Campbell, an LDS Church member who is an associate professor at
the University of Notre Dame and who consulted with the Pew Research Center
on the new survey. “As a Mormon, I would hope it would be that way, but I
wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s good to see the church’s genuine
compassion for the poor and needy reflected in these numbers.”
People outside the church may or may not be aware of the LDS propensity for
compassionate service and other . According to the survey, 62 percent of
Mormons think that Americans are generally uninformed about Mormonism, and
68 percent feel that they are not viewed as part of mainstream American
society. But they remain optimistic, with 63 percent expressing the belief
that Mormonism will eventually become part of mainstream society and 56
percent saying that the American people are ready for a Mormon president.
In fact, optimism is one of the themes to emerge from the survey relative to
Latter-day Saints. Some 87 percent say they are satisfied with the way
things are going in their own life, and 92 percent say their respective
communities are excellent (52 percent) or good (40 percent) places to live (
this is especially true among Mormons in Utah, of whom 71 percent say their
communities are excellent). | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 4 In terms of religious beliefs and practices, the survey makes it clear that
Mormons are highly religious — again, not a big surprise. Eighty-two
percent say that religion is very important in their lives, and 77 percent
say they believe wholeheartedly in all of the church’s teachings. Fully 83
percent say they pray every day, 79 percent say they donate 10 percent of
their earnings to the church in tithing and 77 percent say they attend
church at least once a week. According to Pew, “Mormons exhibit higher
levels of religious commitment than many other religious groups, including
white evangelical Protestants.”
Looking at basic, core religious beliefs, 98 percent say they believe in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, 94 percent believe the president of the LDS
Church is a prophet of God, 95 percent believe that families can be bound
together eternally in temple ceremonies, 94 percent believe that God the
Father and Jesus Christ are separate, physical beings and 91 percent believe
that the Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets.
Clearly, Mormons are believers. | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 5 The survey also illustrates how important family life is to most members of
the LDS Church. Among life’s priorities, being a good parent (81 percent)
and having a successful marriage (73 percent) place higher than career
concerns, having free time or even living a religious life. Some 67 percent
of Mormon adults are married (compared with 52 percent of the general public
), and 85 percent of them are married to another Mormon.
“As the Church and its members are increasingly the focus of media
attention, we’re eager to participate in conversations that help the public
get to know us better,” said LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy. “Even
though the recent Pew study did not survey any of the Church’s eight
million members who live outside the U.S., it highlights some important
aspects regarding who we are and what we believe.
“For example,” Purdy continued, “the study found that Church members
subscribe to traditional Christian beliefs, have high moral standards, are
overwhelmingly satisfied with their lives and communities, are active in
serving others and have a profound dedication to family. These results
reflect the Church’s message that a deep commitment to the teachings of
Jesus Christ brings lasting happiness.” | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 6 Speaking for the Pew Research Center, Lugo said the idea for the survey was
born last summer, “around the time that a Newsweek cover story and a New
York Times article declared that the United States was experiencing a ‘
Mormon moment.’”
“That got us thinking,” Lugo said in the survey’s preface.
Over the years, numerous polls have gauged public attitudes toward
Mormons, who make up about 2 percent of all U.S. adults. But what do Mormons
think about their place in American life? With the rising prominence of
members of the LDS Church in politics, popular culture and the media, do
Mormons feel more secure and accepted in American society? What do they
think about other religions? What do they believe, how do they practice
their faith and what do they see as essential to being a good Mormon and to
leading a good life? | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 7 Among other interesting findings of the Pew Forum’s survey of Mormons:
• 71 percent of respondents reside in the American West, including 53
percent who live in the Mountain states and 34 percent who live in Utah;
• 88 percent are white, 7 percent Hispanic, 1 percent black and 4
percent other racial and ethnic backgrounds;
• 50 percent say that evangelical Christians are generally unfriendly
to Mormons;
• 54 percent say that the way their religion is portrayed on
television and in movies hurts society’s image of Mormons;
• 57 percent of Mormons said that most or all of their close friends
are other Mormons (this number was significantly higher in Utah, where the
number climbed to 73 percent);
• 65 percent of respondents say they hold a current temple recommend;
• 27 percent say they believe in yoga not just as exercise but as a
spiritual practice;
• 11 percent say they believe in reincarnation;
• 74 percent were raised in the LDS Church;
• 59 percent of converts cite the church’s beliefs as the main reason
they joined the church;
• 59 percent of converts joined the church between the ages of 18 and
35;
• 27 percent have served a full-time mission, including 43 percent of
men and 11 percent of women;
• 82 percent say they have a supply of food in storage, and 58 percent
keep at least a three-month supply.
The margin of error for the survey is =/- 4.5 percentage points.
“I think this survey is a really good summary of the hyper-committed Mormon
community that shows up at church every week,” Cornwall said. “I’m not
sure it captures Mormons on the margins very well, but that’s OK —
hopefully we can do that the next time. Meanwhile, this is a pretty good
picture — and an interesting picture — of Mormons.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700214611/Mormons-in-America | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 8 Other articles about the study:
Mormons in the mainstream
by Michael Otterson
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/mormons-in-th
end of his article:
"Ultimately, I suppose other Americans will judge our church - and perhaps
all churches --by their relevance in how they touch and improve human lives
right here on earth as well as what they offer in the life to come.
Meanwhile, we welcome the friendship and regard of all groups, even as we
retain our commitment to a unique identity. In the end, social currents will
flow the way they will flow, but Mormons won’t follow the course of least
resistance. In the mainstream or out, Latter-day Saints will strive to be
good Mormons, true believers, kind neighbors and faithful friends." | m****a
发帖数: 9485 | 9 Read the Church's official news release regarding the Pew study
http://newsroom.lds.org/article/pew-mormon-study-christianity-r
"While the study asks about acceptance, what we really hope for is accurate
understanding. On the whole, information and understanding about The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is increasing," Purdy said. "The more
people learn about our faith, the better they will come to understand who we
are and the values and beliefs we cherish." |
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