New research finds that, when evangelical organizations raise their profile by sponsoring a high-profile political campaign, a backlash ensues.
It reports the rate at which people disassociate themselves from religion is higher in states where the Christian right exerts its political muscle.
"Religious attachments fade in the face of visible Christian right policy victories," writes a research team led by Denison University political scientist Paul Djupe.
In the journal Political Research Quarterly, Djupe and his colleagues analyze the intersection of personal faith and religion-driven politics on a state-by-state basis.
To determine why, the researchers measured the political clout of Christian right organizations in each state (utilizing the expertise of journalists and scholars).
Rather, that deeply personal shift can be driven by reactions to "specific policy skirmishes that gather public attention and shape decision-making.".
The results suggest evangelicals would be wise to consider the consequences of their political advocacy. »
