Public Opinion, Policy, and Evangelicals: How Religion Continues to Impact Life in America

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding the determinants that shape public opinion and policy preference requires a thoughtful examination of social identity. In the United States, religion has not only been a power force for group formation, but has had a consistent impact on individual opinion. To explore the role of social identity on public opinion, I primarily examine the policy preferences of Evangelicals. First, I examine whether Evangelicals and gun owners are more punitive and aggressive in their attitudes towards the death penalty and the use of military force against militant Muslim groups. Second, I explore if Evangelicals perceive discrimination against Christians, their support for the religious rights frame, and policy preferences for out-groups. Finally, using the policy diffusion framework, I examine whether or not the number of Evangelicals affects the passage of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts across the states. My findings suggest that social identity does impact public opinion and policy preference. Furthermore, religious social identity still impacts life in American.