The Religious Become Tolerant

Abstract

The present study investigates whether the relationship between religiosity and anti-immigrant attitudes has changed between 1980 and 2016 in Germany. Based on the intrinsic religiosity thesis (Siegers, Köln Z Soziol Sozialpsychol 71:491–517, 2019), I assume that the decreasing social importance of religion in Germany strengthened the alignment between Churches’ message of tolerance and attitudes of religious individuals. If this is true, religiosity should become more associated with positive attitudes towards immigrants. I apply this argument not only to the direct effect of religiosity but also to the indirect effect mediated via contacts with foreigners. I assume that secularization reduces the preference for homophily of religious individuals. Moreover, I expect that the change is more pronounced in West Germany because secularization is already more advanced in East Germany. I analyse the data from the longitudinal data file of the German General Social Survey covering the period from 1980 to 2016 for West Germany and from 1994 to 2016 for East Germany. The results of the moderated mediation model show that there has been a substantial change in the relationship between individual religiosity and anti-immigrant attitudes in West Germany. While in the 1980s church-goers in West Germany tended to be more sceptical about immigrants than the non-religious, this relationship reversed over time: the religious became tolerant. Today, going to church is associated with less anti-immigrant attitudes. Moreover, an indirect effect of religiosity mediated via contacts with foreigners has disappeared over time indicating that the religious preference for homophily decreased. The change is less pronounced in East Germany where over the whole observation period church-goers had more contacts with foreigners than the non-religious leading to more tolerant attitudes.

Appendix

1.1 Dependent Variable: Attitudes Towards Immigrants

This question is about the foreigners who live in Germany. On this card, there are some statements we have all heard at one time or another. Please tell me for each statement to what extent you agree with it.

•  >1 on the scale means you ‘completely disagree’,

•  >7 on the scale means you ‘completely agree’.

You can use the numbers in between to differentiate your answer.

• 1. The foreigners living in Germany [until 1994: guest workers] should adapt their way of life a little more closely to the German way of life [ma01].

• 2. When jobs get scarce, the foreigners living in Germany [until 1994: guest workers] should be sent home again [ma02].

• 3. Foreigners living in Germany [until 1994: guest workers] should be prohibited from taking part in any kind of political activity [ma03].

• 4. Foreigners living in Germany [until 1994: guest workers] should choose to marry people of their own nationality [ma04].

• 1. Focal predictor: church attendance

As a rule, how often do you go to church?

Answer categories:

−9 No answer, −7 Refused; 1 More than once a week; 2 Once a week; 3 Between one and three times a month; 4 Several times a year; 5 <1980:> Less often or never; <from 1982:> Less often, 6 <From 1982:> Never.

Note: scale reversed for analysis.

1.2 Mediator: Contact with Foreigners

Do you have any personal contact with foreigners living in Germany? Specifically…

• 1. …in your own family or close family circle? [mc01]

• 2. …at work? [mc02]

• 3. …in your neighborhood? [mc03]

• 4. …among your other friends and acquaintances? [mc04]

Answer categories:

1) Yes, 2) No, −9) No answer;

1.3 Controls

• a) Denominational membership

May I ask you what religion you belong to? (Int.: Only one choice possible.)

Answer categories:

−9 No answer, −7 Refused; 1 The German Protestant church (excluding free churches), 2 A Protestant free church; 3 The Roman Catholic church; 4 Another Christian denomination; 5 Another non-Christian denomination; 6 No religious affiliation.

• b) Self-rated social class

There is a lot of talk about social class these days. What class would you describe yourself as belonging to? The lower class, the working class, the middle class or the upper class?

Answer categories:

−50 None of these classes (Int.: Don't read aloud.); -9 No answer; −8 Don't know; −7 Refused to select a category; 1 The lower class <1982 only in split 1> , 2 The working class, 3 The middle class, 4 The upper middle class; 5 The upper class.

• c) Educational achievement

What general school leaving certificate do you have? (Int.: Only one choice possible. Request highest school leaving certificate only.)

Answer categories:

−9 No answer; 1 Finished school without school leaving certificate; 2 Lowest formal qualification of Germany’s tripartite secondary school system, after 8 or 9 years of schooling; 3 Intermediary secondary qualification, after 10 years of schooling; 4 Certificate qualifying for studies at a University of Applied Sciences; 5 Certificate qualifying for studies at university level; 6 Other school certificate; 7 <From 1986:> Still at school.