Perceiving Religion as Easily Changeable and Support for Religion as a Protected Class

Abstract

Religion is unique among the characteristics treated legally and socially as a protected class in the United States, as it is seen as more changeable than characteristics like age or race. The research presented here asks three questions. First, what shapes whether someone sees religion as changeable? Second, how does the perceived changeability of religion compare to other characteristics? Third, does the perceived changeability of religion affect public support for religion as a protected class? Using data from an online survey of U.S. adults, our analysis finds that religion is seen as the most changeable characteristic of those measured, and that personal religiosity is negatively associated with seeing religion as changeable. Furthermore, we find that perceptions of religion as changeable are negatively associated with support for religion as a protected class. This finding is moderated by personal religiosity, such that the association is stronger among the non-religious.