RELATION OF RELIGION AND RACIAL PREJUDICE IN EUROPE.

The article focuses on relation of religion and racial prejudice in Europe. In American studies on the relation between racial prejudice and religious behavior and values, the finding generally has been of a positive relationship. It has been found that on average, churchgoers in the country harbor more racial, ethnic and religious prejudice than do non-churchgoers. However, when researchers separate those whose religious orientation can be characterized as intrinsic or committed or those whose religious practice is very regular, the prejudice demonstrated by these groups is less than that of those more casual or conventional in their religious behavior and values. The present paper finds these patterns also in data from English and Dutch samples. The conclusion from this analysis is that there is a major sub-group in the population sampled who accept religious values, but who also accept prejudiced opinions. These individuals tend to be working-class Catholics. Religious involvement, particularly by Dutch Reformed and Re-reformed church members, is associated with neutrality in the area of prejudice. In Britain religious involvement is least and prejudice seems to be highest among members of the established Church of England.