Resenting Religion: A New Norm in Politics?

• In Event: Religion, Minorities, and Nationalism in the U.S.

Abstract

The increasing proportion of Americans who do not identify or affiliate with a specific religion l has introduced a potential new fissure into American politics. Individuals who are unattached to religion may resent the power that religion still exercises in state and national politics and may prefer instead that priorities and values not associated with religious origins take precedence. This paper develops and tests a measure of religious resentment in two distinctive contexts within the state of Utah, a setting long dominated by the presence and influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). The first occurred during a mayoral campaign in Salt Lake City, where only about one quarter of the population identifies with the dominant faith, and where the campaign featured some controversy over religious influence. The second is on a statewide survey in Utah, where about 60% of the population is LDS. Our scale of religious resentment was developed similarly to the concept of racial resentment—as a measure of underlying religious tension, group affect, and perhaps even prejudice. We find strong evidence that religious resentment exists and can be measured both in relation to a specific religion as well as religion generally. We find that it also correlates with the attitudes and behavior of individuals who harbor such resentment. The paper seeks to establish the validity and relevance of the measure to help understand the dynamics of American politics and identify the fault lines that are emerging in a more secular polity.

Authors

• Christopher F. Karpowitz, Brigham Young University

• Quin Monson, Brigham Young University

• Kelly D. Patterson, Brigham Young University