Rock of Ages: Subcultural Religious Identity and Public Opinion among Young Evangelicals

by Jeremiah J. Castle

Overview

Evangelicals and Republicans have been powerful—and active—allies in American politics since the 1970s. But as public opinions have changed, are young evangelicals’ political identities and attitudes on key issues changing too? And if so, why? In Rock of Ages, Jeremiah Castle answers these questions to understand their important implications for American politics and society. 

Castle develops his own theory of public opinion among young evangelicals to predict and explain their political attitudes and voting behavior. Relying on both survey data and his own interviews with evangelical college students, he shows that while some young evangelicals may be more liberal in their attitudes on some issues, most are just as firmly Republican, conservative, and pro-life on abortion as the previous generation. 

Rock of Ages considers not only what makes young evangelicals different from the previous generation, but also what that means for both the church and American politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439917220
Publisher:	Temple University Press
Publication date:	08/02/2019
Series:	Religious Engagement in Democratic Politics
Edition description:	1
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jeremiah J. Castle is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Central Michigan University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction: Two Big Questions about Young Evangelicals 1

Part I Trends in Public Opinion among Young Evangelicals

1 A Subcultural Theory of Public Opinion among Evangelicals 17

2 Winds of Change or Still the Same? Political Identities and Issue Attitudes among Young Evangelicals 37

3 Inside Out or Outside In: Explaining Change among Young Evangelicals 70

Part II Methods of Understanding Public Opinion among Young Evangelicals

4 How the Evangelical Subculture Influences Public Opinion 99

5 Testing Subcultural Immersions Impact on Public Opinion 131

6 Public Opinion among Liberal Young Evangelicals 146

Conclusion 172

Appendix: Coding Religious Tradition 181

Chapter 3 Appendix 183

Chapter 5 Appendix 185

Chapter 6 Appendix 189

Notes 193

References 199

Index 215