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Can how religious you are听influence听how much or whether you donate to charity?

Ryan Cragun, professor of sociology,听spoke to a听full听room听of听students听on听Feb. 20听about this research question and his findings.听Cragun, along with Alexandra Rodriguez 鈥�19, published the paper 鈥淩eligiosity is听Declining听but听Giving is Increasing: Can the Nonreligious Really Be Less Generous?鈥� in听Secularism & Nonreligion Journal听in January.听

The听research听talk was one of a series by faculty in the Sociology Department.

Cragun challenged previously published claims that听individuals who identify as religious are more likely to give听to both religious and secular charities,听compared听with听those who claim no religious affiliation.

But is there听really听a connection between religiosity and giving? Cragun asked.

During the presentation, Cragun听referenced听data听detailing听information on how much money听survey听respondents听had, how much money听they听make,听and how听they听spend.

鈥淗ere's my syllogism:听If the nonreligious are increasing as a percentage of the U.S.听population, and if charitable donations are increasing, then the nonreligious cannot be less generous than the religious,鈥� Cragun said.

Cragun鈥檚 data听showed that听individuals听who identify as nonreligious听and听atheist/agnostics听are the least likely to give to religious organizations.

鈥淣o one should be surprised by this, right?听This is completely obvious.听They听don't听belong to those organizations,鈥� he said.

Next, he showed the probability of听individuals belonging to听religious groups听to听donate听to听charities听benefiting听the needy. He found that religious affiliation had about a 1% effect on听whether听a person would donate.

鈥淣one of them听are听really giving more than others. If you look at the error bars,听we鈥檙e听explaining听virtually none听of the variation in giving,鈥� he explained.

Sienna Otto 鈥�27, who had听taken听Cragun's听introductory data science class,听followed along with the data sets presented.

鈥淭he talk brought attention to the importance of replicating data to ensure its authenticity,鈥� she said.听

The听authors听determined听that religiosity is not a strong predictor of whether someone will donate or how much. Rather, religious individuals are more likely to donate to religious organizations, and the nonreligious听are听who give听more to听secular charities.

Up next in the sociology series:听Katie Cooper, associate teaching professor,听11:30 a.m.,听April 3,听in听GHS 106.听This is a student event.