Church Affiliation and Denominational Values

Abstract

A survey carried out in a Birmingham suburb revealed that, while there was a large measure of agreement on general social issues between samples of Methodists, Anglicans, Roman Catholics and individuals having no church affiliation, there was marked divergence of attitude on total abstinence, gambling, divorce and family planning. These are issues on which the Methodist and Catholic churches have held distinctive teaching for many years and the differences between the samples can be attributed mainly to denominational affiliation. For the maintenance of these rigorist attitudes which do not conform to wider social norms, it is suggested that involvement in the activities of the local church is more important than isolation from secular organisations. This applies, however, only to normative standards which have become part of the denominational stereotype.