Education and religion: Individual, congregational, and cross-level interaction effects on biblical literalism

Using ideas from cultural and organizational theory, I examine the interplay of individual and congregation-level educational attainment on biblical literalism. Data on 387 congregations and 100,009 worshippers (US Congregational Life Survey, 2001) are used to test hypotheses. Results indicate that the effects of congregational education and individual educational attainment are among the largest effects in models. This study is the first to show that regardless of an individual’s own education, affirmations of biblical literalism are less likely when persons with higher education dominate a congregation. This finding brings into relief the important role of social context in persons’ belief in biblical literalism. Additionally, congregational education amplifies the influence of individual education on biblical literalism such that the gap in belief between college/non-college education individuals widens in high education congregations. This finding suggests that high education persons more deeply absorb the influence of a more educated congregational context.

► An individual’s affirmation of biblical literalism is less likely when those with higher education dominate a congregation. ► Correcting for congregational nesting, individuals’ educational attainment is associated with a lower likelihood of biblical literalism. ► The effects of congregational education and individual educational attainment are among the largest effects in models. ► Congregational education amplifies the influence of individual education on biblical literalism. ► A gap in biblical literalism widens between college/non-college education individuals in high education congregations.