(ZENIT News / Washington, DC, 04.07.2024).- A recent Pew Research Center Report reveals profound divisions between Joe Biden’s voters and Donald Trump’s regarding the role that religion should play in the government and politics of the United States. These differences reflect a significant fracture in the perception of the relationship between faith and politics in the country.
Contrasting Views on Church-State Separation
The Report shows that an overwhelming 86% of Biden voters believe that religion must be kept separate from governmental policy, whereas only 56% of Trump voters share this opinion. In contrast, 43% of Trump supporters opine that governmental policies should support religious values, compared with a mere 13% of Biden followers that agree with this idea.
At the general level, the majority of voters (71%) prefer that religion be kept separate from the government, with only 28% supporting the incorporation of religious values and beliefs in public policies. These numbers have change little in the last years, reflecting a stability in opinions on this topic.
Bible ‘s Influence on Laws
Opinions also differ considerably regarding the influence the Bible should have on American laws. The majority of Trump’s supporters (69%) believe the Bible should influence legislation, with 36% affirming that it should have “much” influence. On the other hand, 69% of Biden’s followers believe that the Bible should have little or no influence on laws, including 53% that hold it should have no influence at all.
Diversity of Opinions According to Religious Affiliation
The opinions also vary significantly according to religious affiliation and race. Among Trump voters, 61% of white Evangelicals believe that government policies should support religious values, compared with less than half non-Evangelical white Protestants and Catholics. In contrast, only 16% of Trump followers without religious affiliation agree with this governmental support to religion.
Among Biden supporters, black Protestants are the most prone to believe that governmental policies should support religious values (39%), whereas only 7% of non-Evangelical white Protestants and a similar percentage of the non-affiliated religiously are in agreement.
Morality and Belief in God
A related question is if it’s necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values. In general, 67% of voters believe it isn’t necessary, whereas 33% think otherwise. However, among Trump voters, this opinion is more divided, with 45% believing in the necessity of faith for morality. In contrast, only 20% of Biden voters think that belief in God is essential to be moral.
Impact of the 2024 Elections
These divisions over religion and politics could play a crucial role in the forthcoming presidential election of 2024. The relationship between faith and government not only reflects profound ideological differences, but also how voters perceive the role of the government in the promotion of moral and religious values in American society.
The Pew Research Center Report stresses the importance of understanding how religious beliefs influence public policies and how the latter can affect the electoral panorama in the United States.
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