Mormonism

In some countries – particularly in a segment of West and Central Africa – polygamy is frequently legal and widespread.

A median of 45% across 34 surveyed countries say it is necessary to believe in God to be moral and have good values. However, public opinion on this question, as well as the role of God, prayer and religion varies by country, region and economic development.

The vast majority of the nation’s federal lawmakers (91%) describe themselves as Christians, compared with 71% of U.S. adults who say the same.

Mormons place a very high value on good parenting and a successful marriage, and they are among the most involved in their congregations of any Christian faith.

Mormons are the most heavily Republican-leaning religious group in the U.S., while a pair of major historically black Protestant denominations are two of the most reliably Democratic groups.

In the last two decades, several religious groups have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions.

Acceptance of homosexuality is rising across the broad spectrum of American Christianity, including among members of churches that strongly oppose homosexual relationships as sinful.

Some of the largest Christian denominations in the U.S. have relatively low levels of involvement among their members.

The religious face of America is largely a Christian one, with roughly seven-in-ten Americans belonging to that faith. But some of the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas have a very different look.

Many large religious groups have taken positions in opposition to the death penalty even though that stance is sometimes at odds with the opinions of their adherents.