End Note: A New Way to Categorize Americans by Religion

Most U.S. adults identify with a particular religious denomination or group such as Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, or Islam. Others consider themselves atheists, agnostic, or say they have no affiliation. But the Pew Research Center looked at beliefs and behaviors that cut across many denominations-traits that unite people of different faiths and those that divide people with the same affiliation-and came up with a new typology of religion in America. These new classifications sort people into seven groups based on the religious and spiritual beliefs they share, how actively they practice their faith, the value they place on their religion, and the other sources of meaning and fulfillment in their lives. While race, ethnicity, age, education, and political opinions were not among the characteristics used to create the groups, some of them have strong partisan leanings or distinctive demographic profiles, illuminating the intrinsic connections between religion, race, and politics in America.