Results for this survey are based on telephone interviews conducted under the direction of Schulman, Ronca, & Bucuvalas, Inc. among a nationwide sample of 2,003 adults, 18 years of age or older, from July 6-19, 2006. For results based on the total sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. For results based on Form 1 (N=996) or Form 2 (N=1,007) only, the error attributable to sampling is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording, sequencing and other practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

About the Projects

This report is a joint effort of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Both organizations are sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts and are projects of the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan “fact tank” that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life provides opinion leaders with timely, impartial information on issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. It also serves as a neutral venue for discussion of these important issues. As an independent, non-partisan and non-advocacy organization, the Forum does not take positions on policy debates. Based in Washington, D.C., the Forum is directed by Luis Lugo.

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press is an independent opinion research group that studies attitudes toward the press, politics and public policy issues. The Center’s purpose is to serve as a forum for ideas on the media and public policy through public opinion research. In this role it serves as an important information resource for political leaders, journalists, scholars, and public interest organizations. All of the Center’s current survey results are made available free of charge.

This report is a collaborative product based on the input and analysis of the following individuals:

Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Andrew Kohut, Director Richard Morin, Senior Editor Scott Keeter, Director of Survey Research Carroll Doherty and Michael Dimock, Associate Directors Carolyn Funk and Richard Wike, Senior Project Directors Nilanthi Samaranayake, Survey and Data Manager Peyton Craighill, April Rapp and Juliana Horowitz, Research Associates Rob Suls, Research Analyst James Albrittain, Executive Assistant

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Luis Lugo, Director Sandra Stencel, Deputy Director John Green, Senior Fellow in Religion and American Politics Gregory Smith, Research Associate Allison Pond, Research Assistant