Religion, Politics, and Polarization

William V. D’Antonio is research professor of sociology at The Catholic University of America and a fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. He is the co-author or co-editor of fifteen books, includingAmerican Catholics Today and American Catholics in Transition.Steven A. Tuch is professor of sociology and of public policy and public administration at The George Washington University. He is the author or co-author of several books, including Race and Policing in America and The Other African Americans.Josiah R. Baker is an assistant professor of financial economics at Methodist University and an adjunct associate professor of economics and geography at George Mason University. He is the author of Macroeconomics: Theories, Principles, and Issues.

Few social scientists have attempted to measure religion's influence on the U.S. Congress with the level of precision that William D'Antonio, Steven Tuch and Josiah Baker exercise in their fine new study. . . . In the end, the authors can show persuasively that Congress has polarized and that its members' religious affiliations have shifted away from mainline Protestantism and toward Catholicism and conservative Protestantism.

• Preface and Acknowledgments1: Setting the Stage: Culture Wars, Religion, and Congress 2: Religion in Congress: A Historical Overview 3: Religious Composition of the U.S. House and Senate, 1959–2010 4: Abortion: Exemplar of the Polarized Congress? 5: Defense, Taxes, and Welfare: Key Votes in the House and Senate6: Does Religion Transcend Social Issue Voting? The Relationship between Religion and Congressional Ideology Steven A. Tuch and Alyx Mark7: Toeing the Party Line: The Increasing Influence of Partisanship among White Protestants and White Catholics, 1972–2010 Robert P. Jones and Daniel Cox8: Discussion and ConclusionAppendix A Appendix B Notes References Index About the Authors