Contemporary Evidence Regarding the Impact of State Regulation of Religion on Religious Participation and Belief*

Abstract

We examine the impact of religious competition on religiosity by looking at state support for religion as a structural factor affecting religious pluralism. Our independent variable consists of a series of six measures that deal with state support for religion from the Religion and State database (RAS) for the 1990 to 2002 period. Our dependent variables include measures of attendance at religious services, religious beliefs, and self-categorization as a religious person. These indicators for 81 countries are based on the World Values Survey and the International Social Survey Program. Regression analyses controlled for demographic, social, political, and economic indicators, and the nature of the dominant religious denomination. The results indicate that state regulation of religion is significantly and negatively correlated with religiosity in 14 of 72 regressions which include these variables. Twelve of these fourteen regressions are those in which attendance at religious services or individuals classifying themselves as religious are the dependent variables. This is consistent with predictions that religious monopolies will reduce participation but not belief.