Measuring Religiosity

• Why is measuring religiosity considered problematic?

  It involves demonstrating patterns across social groups
• What are the methods for collecting data on religiosity?

  • The census (since 2001)
  • Church census
  • Surveys
  • Data from religious organisations
• What is a potential issue with census data regarding religion?

  The head of household may inaccurately report religion
• What unusual result occurred in the 2001 UK census regarding religion?

  390,000 Britons identified as Jedi Knights
• What does a church census measure?

  Attendance at religious institutions on a specific date
• What are the limitations of church census data?

  It may inflate attendance and exclude some groups
• How do definitions of religion affect attendance measures?

  Broad definitions complicate what "attendance" means
• What is the difference between religious belief and religiosity?

  Belief is faith; religiosity is participation
• Can someone have religious belief without religiosity?

  Yes, they can believe without participating
• What is a common discrepancy in reported religious belief?

  People claim belief more than they practice
• Why might religious organisations inflate their membership numbers?

  To appear significant as social institutions
• How should data on religiosity be treated?

  With a degree of scepticism