As recently as 2009, Americans who identify as Protestant divided almost evenly between the two parties.
Today, Republicans have an edge of about 20 percentage points among Protestants, Pew’s numbers show.
Most of that shift has come among white Protestants, especially those who identify as evangelical: Among white, evangelical Protestant voters, 85% now identify as Republicans or independents who lean to the GOP.
Candidates and political operatives, always on the lookout for ways to motivate their supporters, have seen that religious divide and have played up issues that take advantage of it
— abortion, transgender rights, school prayer and more.
As the culture war has intensified, the religious divide has grown.
That makes culture-war issues more useful as political motivators, so candidates use them more.
A cycle of greater division ensues.
Today, while highly religious liberals and conservative agnostics still exist, the question of how important religion is in a voter’s life has become the single most useful predictor of which party they support.
Except among Black voters, the more religious a person, the more likely they are to support the GOP.
#Introduction:
My name is Robbie Norlyn! I’m a published author who primarily writes science fiction and fantasy for sale to the public. Anything else I have written, about a wide array of topics, is academic, private, or public domain.
I have had a wide variety of occupations over the years. I’m an #artist, #engineer, #scientist, and #technologist by way of experience and training.
My #AlmaMater is the #UniversityofWashington. Where I completed a #BA in #Philosophy. More specifically the school of #AnalyticPhilosophy with a strong focus on #science. However, I have a vast knowledge of #ethics and #theology due to my environment as a youth.
Why #Babka?
I’m #Jewish by descent (both sides, #Ashkenazi & #Sephardic) and am becoming more spiritual as I get older. I was raised in a #Secular/#CryptoJew environment. I grew up with Jewish memes & traditions without understanding any of their importance. Dreidels, Fiddler on the Roof, Passover, and Shel Silverstein are burned into my memories.