Archived News – August 2015
Aug
24
2015
Aug. 20, 2015
In U.S. counties with warm winters, temperate summers and beautiful natural resources, people’s rates of affiliation with religious organizations are lower than in other places, according to a Baylor study by sociology doctoral candidates Todd W. Ferguson and Jeffrey A. Tamburello of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Quoted is Ferguson, who noted the West Coast as an example of lower religious affiliations with churches, mosques or synagogues, but “not because the population is in any way less religious/spiritual. It's that there is an additional supplier of spirituality (nature) and so they are less likely get their spiritual needs met from traditional religious congregations." (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
In U.S. counties with warm winters, temperate summers and beautiful natural resources, people’s rates of affiliation with religious organizations are lower than in other places, according to a Baylor study by sociology doctoral candidates Todd W. Ferguson and Jeffrey A. Tamburello of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Quoted is Ferguson, who noted the West Coast as an example of lower religious affiliations with churches, mosques or synagogues, but “not because the population is in any way less religious/spiritual. It's that there is an additional supplier of spirituality (nature) and so they are less likely get their spiritual needs met from traditional religious congregations." (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
20
2015
Aug. 20, 2015
In U.S. counties with warm winters, temperate summers and beautiful natural resources, people’s rates of affiliation with religious organizations are lower than in other places, according to a Baylor study by sociology doctoral candidates Todd W. Ferguson and Jeffrey A. Tamburello of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Quoted is Ferguson, who noted the West Coast as an example of lower religious affiliations with churches, mosques or synagogues, but “not because the population is in any way less religious/spiritual. It's that there is an additional supplier of spirituality (nature) and so they are less likely get their spiritual needs met from traditional religious congregations." (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
In U.S. counties with warm winters, temperate summers and beautiful natural resources, people’s rates of affiliation with religious organizations are lower than in other places, according to a Baylor study by sociology doctoral candidates Todd W. Ferguson and Jeffrey A. Tamburello of Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Quoted is Ferguson, who noted the West Coast as an example of lower religious affiliations with churches, mosques or synagogues, but “not because the population is in any way less religious/spiritual. It's that there is an additional supplier of spirituality (nature) and so they are less likely get their spiritual needs met from traditional religious congregations." (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
17
2015
Aug. 17, 2015
Troubling questions about multiracial congregations' potential to address racial inequality are raised by a new national study co-authored by Baylor University. The study, published in the journal Sociology of Religion, found “little evidence that multiracial congregations promote progressive racial views among attendees of any race or ethnicity," the researchers wrote. Quoted is Kevin Dougherty, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched the story. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Troubling questions about multiracial congregations' potential to address racial inequality are raised by a new national study co-authored by Baylor University. The study, published in the journal Sociology of Religion, found “little evidence that multiracial congregations promote progressive racial views among attendees of any race or ethnicity," the researchers wrote. Quoted is Kevin Dougherty, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched the story. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
17
2015
WACO, Texas (Aug. 17, 2015) — Troubling questions about multiracial congregations’ potential to address racial inequality are raised by a new national study done by researchers at Baylor University, the University of Southern California and the University of Chicago.
Aug
12
2015
Aug. 11, 2015
New research by a team at Baylor University examined 3,107 counties across the continental U.S. and found that those with more natural amenities — that is, nice weather and beautiful landscapes — are home to fewer traditionally religious people. "When a person hikes in a forest to connect with the sacred, she or he may not feel the need to affiliate with a religious organization because her or his spiritual demands are met,” said Todd Ferguson, a doctoral candidate in sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, who conducted the research with fellow doctoral candidate Jeffrey A. Tamburello. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this research nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
New research by a team at Baylor University examined 3,107 counties across the continental U.S. and found that those with more natural amenities — that is, nice weather and beautiful landscapes — are home to fewer traditionally religious people. "When a person hikes in a forest to connect with the sacred, she or he may not feel the need to affiliate with a religious organization because her or his spiritual demands are met,” said Todd Ferguson, a doctoral candidate in sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, who conducted the research with fellow doctoral candidate Jeffrey A. Tamburello. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this research nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
11
2015
Aug. 10, 2015
The beauty of a natural environment helps many achieve their spiritual needs, according to a study by Baylor University sociologists Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Regions of the country with good weather and lovely landscapes have lower rates of affiliation with religious organizations. The study was published in the Journal of Sociology. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story.)
The beauty of a natural environment helps many achieve their spiritual needs, according to a study by Baylor University sociologists Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Regions of the country with good weather and lovely landscapes have lower rates of affiliation with religious organizations. The study was published in the Journal of Sociology. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched this story.)
Aug
10
2015
Aug. 10, 2015
Just as beautiful natural amenities may be an economic commodity to attract tourists, new residents and development, they also may be spiritual resources for a portion of the population — and compete with traditional local religious organizations, according to a Baylor University study by Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in the College of Arts & Sciences. The study was published in the journal Sociology of Religion. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, has pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Just as beautiful natural amenities may be an economic commodity to attract tourists, new residents and development, they also may be spiritual resources for a portion of the population — and compete with traditional local religious organizations, according to a Baylor University study by Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in the College of Arts & Sciences. The study was published in the journal Sociology of Religion. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, has pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
10
2015
Aug. 9, 2015
U.S. counties with nicer weather and prettier natural surroundings see lower rates of religious affiliation, according to Baylor researchers Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in the sociology department in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. The study suggests some people use nature as a spiritual resource, making it a competitor with organized religious institutions. Counties in regions such as the Pacific Northwest with more natural amenities — mountains, bodies of water, forests, warm weather — had lower percentages of people belonging to traditional religious institutions than counties in regions such as the Midwest, with flatter landscapes and colder winters. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, has pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
U.S. counties with nicer weather and prettier natural surroundings see lower rates of religious affiliation, according to Baylor researchers Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, doctoral candidates in the sociology department in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. The study suggests some people use nature as a spiritual resource, making it a competitor with organized religious institutions. Counties in regions such as the Pacific Northwest with more natural amenities — mountains, bodies of water, forests, warm weather — had lower percentages of people belonging to traditional religious institutions than counties in regions such as the Midwest, with flatter landscapes and colder winters. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, has pitched this story nationally. She covers sociology research and faculty.)
Aug
7
2015
Aug. 7, 2015
Communities in regions of the country with more beautiful landscapes may feel more of a spiritual pull toward nature than to traditional religious organizations, according to a study by Baylor sociologists Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, both doctoral candidates in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Such counties had lower rates of religious affiliations. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched and placed this story.)
Communities in regions of the country with more beautiful landscapes may feel more of a spiritual pull toward nature than to traditional religious organizations, according to a study by Baylor sociologists Todd Ferguson and Jeffrey Tamburello, both doctoral candidates in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. Such counties had lower rates of religious affiliations. (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched and placed this story.)
Aug
6
2015
Aug. 6, 2015
U.S. counties with nice weather and prettier natural surroundings see lower rates of religious affiliation, according to a Baylor study. The researchers suggest that people may use nature as a spiritual resource, making it a competitor with organized religious institutions. Quoted is Todd Ferguson, a doctoral candidate in sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, who conducted the research with Jeffrey A. Tamburello, also a doctoral candidate in sociology. “People continually bring up this idea of nature-based spiritual fulfillment — whether it’s people who are hiking, surfing, backpacking . . . We were trying to see, if this is happening at the individual level, maybe it’s actually affecting large regions like counties.” (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched and placed this story. She covers sociology faculty and research.)
U.S. counties with nice weather and prettier natural surroundings see lower rates of religious affiliation, according to a Baylor study. The researchers suggest that people may use nature as a spiritual resource, making it a competitor with organized religious institutions. Quoted is Todd Ferguson, a doctoral candidate in sociology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences, who conducted the research with Jeffrey A. Tamburello, also a doctoral candidate in sociology. “People continually bring up this idea of nature-based spiritual fulfillment — whether it’s people who are hiking, surfing, backpacking . . . We were trying to see, if this is happening at the individual level, maybe it’s actually affecting large regions like counties.” (Terry Goodrich, assistant director of Baylor Media Communications, pitched and placed this story. She covers sociology faculty and research.)