In Search Of Denominational Subcultures: Religious Affiliation And Pro-Family Issues Revisited

While researchers have long contended that religious denominations promote and sustain subcultural differences within the American public, this claim has rarely been subjected to rigorous empirical examination. We argue that an adequate investigation requires attention to (1) group differences in central tendencies and (2) group differences in homogeneity. Further, comparisons of both types of group differences should be adjusted to account for denominational variations in sociodemographic characteristics. Focusing on attitudes toward pro-family issues (e.g., attitudes toward gender roles, abortion, sexuality), we develop such an analysis using data from the 1982-1991 General Social Surveys. Results suggest the existence of both conservative and liberal subcultures regarding certain of these issues. Of particular interest are several intriguing patterns of attitudinal heterogeneity within putatively conservative denominations. Several promising directions for future research on religious variations in social values and attitudes are discussed