Jesus Is On Our Main Line! Study Finds Black Women Are The Most Religious In The Nation

July 9th, 2012 - By Alissa Henry

Who do you turn to as your spiritual guide? If you’re a black woman then the answer is probably “God”.

The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a nationwide survey and concluded that nearly nine in 10 African American women rely heavily on their faith.

WaPo says the poll is the most extensive look at black women’s lives in decades. (You’ll likely remember some of it’s previous findings like the results on overweight black women and self-esteem.) This poll found that, as a group, black women are among the most religious people in the nation. Although black men are almost as religious as their female counterparts, there is a more stark divide along racial lines. According to their report:

The survey found that 74 percent of black women and 70 percent of black men said that “living a religious life” is very important. On that same question, the number falls to 57 percent of white women and 43 percent of white men.

But in times of turmoil, about 87 percent of black women — much more than any other group — say they turn to their faith to get through. Black women, across education and income levels, say living a religious life is a greater priority than being married or having children, and this call to faith either surpasses or pulls even with having a career as a life goal, the survey shows.

Clearly, according to the poll, the majority of white women are also believers. But cultural influences probably account for the racial gap, said Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, a professor of sociology and African American studies at Colby College in Maine.

African Americans are more likely to have grown up with gospel music in the background of their lives, as well as with a mother or grandmother who insisted on all-day church on Sundays and Bible school in the summers.

Of course, even a modern-day discussion of Christianity and Black America cannot leave out slavery. The article goes on to say:

Inextricably woven into black culture has been the sense that devotion and faith in God more strongly connect black men and women to their slave ancestors, who leaned on religious faith to help maintain their dignity in the face of discrimination and harsh and unjust treatment.

Some theologians argue that women in general and black women in particular are more religious than men because of their experience with oppression.

It’s important not to confuse this finding that women who confess their faith with women who just go to church. The report found that many women get together outside of church to pray together and read the Bible and discuss their personal wins and losses. The power in the majority of churches is decidedly male and this fact wasn’t lost on the black women surveyed. They don’t seem to mind though because church isn’t the focus. They told WaPo that their focus is on one thing: their personal relationship with God.

When life is harsh and doesn’t turn out as they expect, they say, they rely even more strongly on God.

Although this report seemed to focus mostly on Christianity, they did explore the fact that Christianity is not the only religion black women practice. The article quoted one Protestant turned Buddhist and other religions are discussed as well.

There was also a segment of women surveyed, albeit a small segment, who don’t profess that faith plays a significant part in their lives. The poll found that for roughly a quarter of black women who responded to the survey, religion plays a less-than-primary role in their lives; a scant 2 percent of them said it is “not at all” important.

Where do you stand? Does religion play a strong role in your life?

Follow Alissa Henry on Twitter @AlissaInPink

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  • Ms_Sunshine9898

    The church leadership may be male, but I’ve never been to a church with equal or more men than women at the church. . .

  • Ilovemygod

    We all know that when people are in trouble and facing critical adversities in their life they call on God for help. When everything is going ok in your life and you have a little moneyin your bank account you want to get beside yourself talking about you don’t believe in God, Hell, and Heaven. Just stay clear away from the people who are not ashame to give God all the praises, glory and worship he is do!!!

  • ILOVEMYGOD!!!

    Its breaks my heart to see the comments you make about God. You all will have to pay for it. We did not get on earth by science. You can hide behind those phony screen names but God knows who you truly are! He sits HIGH and see LOW!!! He is nothing to play with. You don’t know today could be your last day living tomorrow you may wake up in Hell! Nomatter what faith/religion you believe in there is MANY facts that they all believe in and one of them is there is a HEAVEN and HELL in all religions! If you can’t wait to get to hell then turn on your stove and burn yourself and see if the fire hot enough for you because the say the fire in Hell is way hotter than that on EARTH!!!

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JAI4SRENU2A5WKRTELXXYJPDSI Kayla

      No such thing as hell.

    • Nope

      Damn, god has internet access and visits this site? That is pretty impressive.

    • IJS

      You cannot state as fact your own personal opinion, regardless of how much you believe it to be true. Every religion does not, in fact, believe in heaven and hell. Also, condemning people to hell is not the way to convince people to convert to your religion. If you actually read your Bible, you would understand that people loved Jesus because He loved them in word and in action. You have to show people how your relationship with God has made your life better – that’s how you draw people. It’s people like you (religious fanatics) who turn people away from God.

  • Nope

    And a lot of good it seems to be doing them.

  • bits

    Black women are the most religious yet the most desperate, single and miserable. ummm does know one see the connection or disconnection? MESSAGE! Studies have shown that the happiest countries in the world do not have religion at their core. the people in those countries are more SPIRITUAL or atheists.

  • lawwwwwwwdd

    Hunny GOD is the only man you should be leaning on….I think that in MOST womens lives we go thru soooo much that breaks us down that the only way to look is UP….I know Ive been through it and many ladies probably on here too… These guys out here can Dog the hell outa women, and yes we choose fools and sometimes the fools choose us. But this is defintely an on point article…its true. Guys think they are invincible for SO long and are taught to lean on themselves that they dont look to GOD for their everything and their faith…they feel like they can DO IT ALL….. Its the way alot of us are raised and taught as men and women. While men are taught to depend on themselves and just DO THEM, women are taught to be semi-dependent on men….and when that lets you down, which it most often does…..A LOT. GOD is who we look to to move on and move up. Men will continue to do them until realities of life really hit them in the face…some learn quicker than others, but all eventually learn.

  • Papillon

    If one group is the most religious, then another has to be the least religious. So why didn’t they write an article about who was the least religious? Hm, I think I can guess why…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JAI4SRENU2A5WKRTELXXYJPDSI Kayla

    Most religious yet have the most out of wedlock birth……. the irony kills me

    • Dani

      Exactly!

  • Hawaiian Breeze

    “Who do you turn to as your spiritual guide? If you’re a black woman then the answer is probably ‘God’.”

    I am a Black woman and the answer is NOT ‘God’.

    • Thank you

      Thank you i hate the automatic assumption that if your black..especially a black woman your a christian….I’ve never been happier since the day i denounced christianity!!! lol

  • http://www.facebook.com/greenapplehair Tiffany Rodkell

    Great Read! I started a Facebook group called “Touch My Heart Instead”-Church Hurt. This walk is about our relationship with God and not about attending a building for God’s approval. God does truly know our heart and hears our prayers outside of the four walls of a church.

  • http://www.facebook.com/greenapplehair Tiffany Rodkell

    Great Read! I started a Facebook group called “Touch My Heart Instead”-Church Hurt. This walk is about our relationship with God and not about attending a building for God’s approval. God does truly know our heart and hears our prayers outside of the four walls of a church.

  • sholla21

    I see being religious as a spectrum that goes from “go to church in my room” to “bible thumping Jesus freak” with “pious” and “devout” somewhere in the middle.
    I would be interested in knowing the marital status/number of children stats for the portion of women who claim to be highly religious (end of the spectrum). Just curious.

  • StuckInDaMatrix

    Christianity is one of the many European instittuions that helped to destroy blacks here in America, Because it teaches to forgive an open oppressor and take all the crap he gives you for a place in heaven.

    • Papillon

      I’d rank religion second to racism in the amount of damage that it has done to the Black community.

  • greentea516

    “They don’t seem to mind though because church isn’t the focus. They told
    WaPo that their focus is on one thing: their personal relationship with
    God.” <<<True

    Religion and relationship with God are totally different. There are women who faithfully go to church (religion) but don't get what they need from God because they are lacking relationship with Him. Christianity is the most popular "religion" in America, so it was bound to be the most popular for African Americans.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/TUEXVVHBFHYJ5T36VNTAD3PYTQ Cool Breeze

    If black people have a true knowledge and love of God the community wouldn’t look the way it does. Too many women having children out of wedlock, babies by multiple men, and HIV for blacks to be considered devoutly religious

    • Dani

      Truer words have not been said.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/TUEXVVHBFHYJ5T36VNTAD3PYTQ Cool Breeze

    How can black women be considered the most religious but lead the industrialized world in children born out of wedlock, HIV/STD’s/ and highest divorce rate?

    • gracie

      Tru dat!

  • Mrsadkiah

    Not this Black woman. My beef is more with religion than whether there is or is not a god. I will never understand how Blacks can be the most devote to a religion that was literally forced upon them while their original religion stripped away because it wasn’t ‘civilized”.

    • gracie

      Trust me you don’t want to be part of the “original religion” I am African and I can openly say it is pulling most my peope back. I have seen a traditional priest recieveing sacrifices for decades from poor people who can not even afford to feed their families e.t.c

      • mandy

        Pay no mind. We only say what we hear others say. You only hear the same thing, but you never hear what that religion was, consisted of, it’s practices…….. A new american trend that’s all.

        “religion brainwashes” Love thy neighbor, honor they mother and father, do not steal….O_O ????

        “not our true religion” but as I stated they can never recall that true religion, and here you are saying ^^^^^^^^^^ which is exactly what our true religion sound like ( no disrespect). If you told our AA people talking that True Religion right now ok it’s TR time they would run to Christianity so fast lol

        “the Bible has been rewritten” ????? but it never goes beyond that *sigh* I just wanted to call attention to that !

      • Lola

        What you describe also applies to pastors who belong to Africa’s “new-found” religion, i.e. Christianity.

        I have also seen (and read of) charlatans disguised as men of God, who are preying on the weak and the poor. Not only do they siphon money from those who can barely feed themselves, but they also sexually molest children and sleep with other people’s wives (in Africa).

      • Lola

        What you describe also applies to pastors who belong to Africa’s “new-found” religion, i.e. Christianity.

        I have also seen (and read of) charlatans disguised as men of God, who are preying on the weak and the poor. Not only do they siphon money from those who can barely feed themselves, but they also sexually molest children and sleep with other people’s wives (in Africa).

      • Just saying!!

        I don’t necessarily think that she was suggesting that we go back to our “old religion”. She was just pointing out the strange fact that many blacks who acknowledge how Christianity was forced on them and use to control them run back to it so quickly. I myself have made those observation. We tend to skip over the parts we dot like. After watching “Roots” you’d think a lot of us would be asking questions but nope. We’ve been whipped GOOD!!

    • Anonymous

      The problem is not whether it was forced or not, the problem is the misinterpretation and the distorted truth that is going on in churches. Religion is most appealing to poor people. When I say poor, I mean people who are the most suppressed, its become a clutch for black people. Whites didn’t introduce christianity/God, there were Africans who practiced christianity just like how there were some who practiced Islam pre colonialism. Many mixed it up with other traditional beliefs. What whites did, they introduced different aspect of christianity to Africans. Africans believed in a supernatural power,, but believed small gods is a source/connection to get to the real GOD. A lot of things done by Africans out of ignorance, and whites introduced a more conventional way. Islam is another religion mostly practiced by Africans, it’s caused more harm than good. The interesting thing is, these two religions speak against the same things destroying the community, so the problem doesn’t lie in christianity/Christ, it lies in how people are interpreting it. Religiosity is common among black people because church has become a place to feel understood or accepted or get away from the worries/problems of the society. Church folks can name all the bishops, pastors, sister this or that but ask them what it means to be a christian or what Christ is about, they have no clue. There’s a disconnection going on, no form of practicality.

  • mandy

    It’s sad to see so many label the love of God as superstitious, or say black people use God to release them from responsibility…..black women continue to trust in the Lord, and he will make a way. Regardless to the propaganda put out there…..I find it odd I see the same two comments on every site, but moving on continue to trust in God, You know when God is working wonders in your life. We are the most mistreated being on the planets…..so i’m guessing this harsh cold world takes care of us keeping us on our feet…..sideeye ! If you let the world tell it black women are poor, uneducated, unhealthy, unemployment rates sky high….the list goes on and on…how else do you think we deal with it. Who do you think take care of us, provide and guide us through this world ? The world is against us but in reality we are doing just fine and i’m guessing you are wondering why smh ?

    • mandy

      and when I say the same two comments I mean the ” black people believe anything the Bible is fake, they use God to get out of responsibility…but they can never elaborate…you will never see the topic elaborated. The Bible is fake because the original text said “and in the beginning God created the Earth and Heavens” and the KJ Holy Bible says ” in the beginning God created the heavens and Earth” or the account of Mary Madelin

      Silly things like that. I have viewed old text and it’s nothing people are making it out to be…like I said they can never elaborate the subject…pay attention and see if you ever see the conversation go beyond that…i’ll wait !

      • mandy

        BTW I am not a religious person but I believe in God, but people nothing wrong with getting dressed every Sunday for God, meeting with people like you to sing and give praise, etc etc…as long as you follow God and not man do you !

        • Heluvitica

          You must be one of those religious freaks. Carry on…

  • Miss D

    I think it is important to have a way to cope with life’s challenges, be it religion, meditation, or just talking with friends/family. My family is very religious and I have been skeptical since I was a teen (25 now). I studied the Bible, went to different churches, but things just weren’t adding up. I did some research and found that agnosticism best described my thoughts and feelings about religion. I’m not a radically different person than I was before – only my view of religion has changed. I am still a kind and giving person, and I don’t feel that I need a religion to be that way.

    • Mrsadkiah

      Agnostic here too. We’re very much a minority within a minority.

  • melaninman

    Not to mention that Black people tend to be a superstitious bunch and Black theology is rooted in tradition and not so much on theological soundness or actual knowledge (being opinionated is not the same as being educated).