Religious Climate Survey

If you have taken this survey at another venue or church, it is still helpful
for you to take this one.
Please indicate where you have done the survey before:
______________________________
The purpose of this survey is to gain an understanding of how people in Dubuque
orient around religion and view the religious beliefs and perspectives of others. By
'orient' around religion, we mean how a person associates or does not associate
with a religious identity, institution, or way of thinking. In the survey, we use the
term 'philosophical' to refer to a coherent outlook on the world and life which may
or may not be associated with religious teachings.
If you would prefer to take this survey online, you may do so at this URL:
https://www.research.net/s/DBQ-RP1
Minors, ages 13-17, are encouraged to take this survey, but must submit with it a signed
parental consent form.

Return this form and the signed consent form(s) to any member of the Research
Team at church next weekend; or mail it to John Eby, Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista,
Dubuque, IA, 52001; or contact the Research Team at DbqInterfaith@gmail.com to
arrange to have it picked up.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Ag
e:

Gend Woma Ma Another Gender

er:
n
n
Identity

Prefer Not to
Answer

Heritage
Choose one or more categories. Heritage refers to your own selfidentification for most people it will refer to biological ancestry, but for
some it may refer to cultural identity. By American we mean identifies
personally as American and/or has lived in the United States for a long
time.
American - Native Peoples (American
Indian/Native American/Alaska Native)
American - European descent
American Canadian origin
American African descent
American Hispanic descent
American Middle Eastern descent
American East Asian descent
American South Asian descent
American Southeast Asian
American Pacific Islander descent
American Australian/New Zealander

European
Canadian
Latin American
African
East Asian
South Asian
Southeast Asian
Middle Eastern
Pacific Islander/Australian
Australian/New Zealander
Other (please specify):

The following three questions pertain to those living in Dubuque. Please

check the box below if you do NOT live in Dubuque and skip to Political
Affiliation.
I am not a Dubuque resident.
______________________

Name of city of residence:

Approximately how far do you live from your primary church or religious
community?
mile or less
1-3 miles
5-9 miles
mile to 1 mile 3-5 miles
More than 9 miles
What is the closest
Audubon
Bryant/St.
Columbkille
Carver
Eisenhower
Fulton

elementary school to your place or residence?

Holy Ghost
Marshall
Table Mound
Hoover
Prescott
Other
Irving
Kennedy
Lincoln

Resurrection
Sageville
St. Anthony/Our
Lady of
Guadalupe

Which grocery store is nearest your place of residence?

Hy-Vee (Dodge Street)
Dubuque Food Co-Op
Hy-Vee (Locust Street by the
Fareway
river)
Hy-Vee (Asbury)
Walmart
Eagle Country Market
Other (please specify):
Save-a-Lot
Cremers
Political Affiliation
Republican
Green Party
Tea Party
Libertarian
Republican
Democrat
Independent

Other
No political party
affiliation
Not politically active

Annual Household Income (round up to the nearest $1000)

$9,000 or less
$30,000-$44,000 $85,000 $450,000$124,000
$750,000
$10,000-$19,000 $45,000 $125,000 Above $750,000
$64,000
$199,000
$20,000$29,000 $65,000-$84,000 $200,000$449,000
Amount of Education Completed (choose highest level completed)
Middle School
College (2 Year)
Graduate School (DoctoratePh.D., M.D.,
J.D., etc.)
Some High
College (4 Year)
School
High School
Graduate School
2

(Masters Degree)
What is the total number of years you have lived in Dubuque?
Religious Affiliation (Choose one or more categories.)
Agnostic
Jewish
Presbyterian
Atheist
Lutheran
Roman Catholic
Baptist
Methodist
Unitarian
Buddhist
Mormon
Other Protestant
Episcopalian
Muslim
Non-religious/Nonaffiliated
Hindu
Non-denominational
Spiritual, not part of
Christian
any organized religion
Historically Black
Orthodox Christian
Other (please specify):
Denomination
Jehovahs Witness
Pagan

PERSONAL OUTLOOK

AND

PRACTICE

Please rate the following statements.

Strongly
Agree
Religion influences how I see the
world.
I make daily choices based on my
religious/philosophical tradition.
My beliefs have been influenced by a
variety of beliefs and/or traditions
I grew up in a social environment with
a similar religious/philosophical
tradition as my own.

Moderate
ly Agree

Moderate
ly
Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

Typically, how often do you attend a service or participate in a communal

ritual activity within your religious or philosophical tradition?
Daily
Every couple of months Occasionally, not every
year
More than twice per
Two to three times per
I dont know
week, but not daily
year
Once per week
Only on major holidays Never attend
Twice per month
Once a year, maybe
Please estimate how often the following statements occur in your
experience.
(Daily, Frequently, Sometimes, Rarely, Never)
Daily Frequentl Sometime
Rarely Never
y
s
I am actively engaged in

community service.
I am involved in the

ministry within my faith

community.
I spend time reading from

scripture or a sacred text

from my tradition.
I spend time praying.

I spend time meditating.

I spend time in personal

reflection.

VIEW

OF

OTHERS
4

Rate on a scale of 1 to 10 how you feel about a particular religious or

philosophical perspective.
1 being strong negative feelings; 5 being uncertain or neutral; 10 being
strong positive feelings)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Strong
Neutr
Strong
I
Negati
al
Positiv don
ve
e
t
Feeling
Feelin kno
s
gs
w
Agnostic

Atheist

Buddhist

Catholic

Hindu

Jewish

Mainline
Protestants
(Presbyteria

n, Lutheran,
Episcopalian
, Methodist,
UCC, etc.)
Mormon

Muslim

Non

denominatio
nal Christian
Orthodox

Christian

CITY CLIMATE

The following religious or philosophical traditions can share their

perspectives openly in Dubuque.

Agnostics
Atheists
Buddhists
Catholics
Hindus
Jews
Mainline
Protestants
Mormons
Muslims
Non-

Strongly
Agree

Moderately
Agree

Moderately
Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

I dont
know

Strongly
Agree
denominatio
nal Christians
Orthodox
Christians

Moderately
Agree

Moderately
Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

I dont
know

Dubuque is a welcoming and comfortable place for the following religious

or philosophical perspectives.
Strongly
Moderately
Moderately
Strongly
I dont
Agree
Agree
Disagree
Disagree
know
Agnostics

Atheists

Buddhists

Catholics

Hindus

Jews

Mainline

Protestants
Mormons

Muslims

Nondenominatio

nal
Christians
Orthodox

Christians
To your knowledge, how often does the following happen in Dubuque?
Alway Frequentl Sometime
Rarely Never
I
s
y
s
dont
know
Catholics are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,

organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Catholics are portrayed

negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Mainline Protestants are
rejected service or
offered poor service from

a business, organization,
or institution based on
their religious status.
6

Mainline Protestants are

portrayed negatively in
media in Dubuque.
Non-denominational
Christians are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Non-denominational
Christians are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Orthodox Christians are
rejected service or
offered poor service from
a business, organization,
or institution based on
their religious status.
Orthodox Christians are
portrayed negatively in
media in Dubuque.
Atheists are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Atheists are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Jews are rejected service
or offered poor service
from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Jews are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.

Alway
s

Frequentl
y

Sometime
s

Rarely

Never

I
dont
know

Mormons are rejected

service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Mormons are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Muslims are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Muslims are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Agnostics are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Agnostics are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Buddhists are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.
Buddhists are portrayed
negatively in media in
Dubuque.
Hindus are rejected
service or offered poor
service from a business,
organization, or
institution based on their
religious status.

Alway
s

Frequentl
y

Sometime
s

Rarely

Never

I
dont
know

Alway
s

Frequentl
y

Sometime
s

Rarely

Never

I
dont
know

Hindus are portrayed

negatively in media in
Dubuque.

Please rate the following statements.

Strongly Moderately
Agree
Agree
I have a community
of support in
Dubuque within my
faith or philosophical
tradition.
I feel my needs are
met and I am
accommodated in
celebrating events or
holidays within my
religious/philosophic
al tradition in
Dubuque.
There is somewhere
in Dubuque where I
can seek help or
have questions
answered from my
spiritual or religious
perspective.
I know people in my
faith community
would support me
during a difficult
time (personal
difficulties, grief).

Moderately
Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

I dont
know or
N/A

FAMILIARITY WITH PEOPLE WHO ORIENT AROUND

RELIGION DIFFERENTLY

How well do you know one or more people with the following perspective?
(Mark one or more boxes; multiple categories can apply)

Agnostic

Family
Membe
r

Close
Friendsh
ip

Friendsh
ip

Work
Relationshi
p

Acquaintan
ce

Do not
know
someo
ne

Atheist
Buddhist
Catholic
Jewish
Hindu
Mainline Protestant
Mormon
Muslim
Nondenominational
Christian
Orthodox Christian

Please rate the following statements.

Strongly
Agree
I have been challenged by another
religious/philosophical perspective
that impacted my own perspective.
I've grown in my own beliefs or
philosophies through dialogue with
another religious or philosophical
perspective.
I recognize similarity in values
between other religious or
philosophical positions and my own.
I feel comfortable conversing with
people of a different religious or
philosophical perspective than my
own.
I regularly engage in conversation
about religion or spirituality with
people of different
religious/philosophical perspectives.
I find it personally beneficial to be
knowledgeable about
religious/philosophical perspectives
different than my own.
I am familiar with the term
interfaith.
I have been involved in organized
interfaith activities before.
I am interested in participating in
dialogue with people who orient
around religion differently.
10

Moderate
ly Agree

Moderate
ly
Disagree

Strongly
Disagree

I have a close relationship with

someone from a faith tradition other
than my own.

If you answered Strongly Agree or Moderately Agree to the last statement,

I have a close relationship with someone from a faith tradition other than
my own. In the previous question, how often do you converse about
religion with this person?

Always
Frequently
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Compared to three years ago, do you think Dubuque has become a more
welcoming environment for people from diverse religious faiths and
philosophical perspectives?
Yes
No
Why do you think that?

What about the religious climate in Dubuque needs to change or develop?

Ten years from now, do you think Dubuque will likely be more or less
welcoming to diverse faith traditions?
More welcoming
Less welcoming
Why do you think that?

What are significant issues that the religious population of Dubuque

faces?
11

How can religious organizations in Dubuque work together to improve our

city?

Comments (Optional)
Please feel free to offer further comments to elaborate on answers above or add
new information you would like us to know.

PARISH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

What

is your relationship to First Presbyterian Church?

I am a member of First Presbyterian Church.
I attend First Presbyterian but am not a registered member.
I am not a registered member and I do not attend regularly.

What do you appreciate most about First Presbyterian Church?

In your view, what are some of the weaknesses of our church?

What are some of the ways we can grow as a church community?

Are there particular ministries, outreach, or functions that should be the

focus of the life of the church?

12

What significant issues do we face together as a denomination? Do you

have ideas or suggestions about how we address those issues?

13