--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Statistics on religious affiliation are…" description: "\"Statistics on religious affiliation are notoriously slippery: the government isn't allowed to gather such data, and the membership claims of religious ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/stephen-j-dubner-13900_data_statistics-on-religious-affiliation-are_2837576.jpg" --- # Statistics on religious affiliation are notoriously… ![“Statistics on religious affiliation are notoriously slippery: the government isn't allowed to gather such data, and the membership claims of religious organizations aren't entirely reliable.” quote by Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/stephen-j-dubner-13900_data_statistics-on-religious-affiliation-are_2837576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/stephen-j-dubner-13900_data_statistics-on-religious-affiliation-are_2837576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ff/stephen-j-dubner-13900_data_statistics-on-religious-affiliation-are_2837576.jpg) > “Statistics on religious affiliation are notoriously slippery: the government isn't allowed to gather such data, and the membership claims of religious organizations aren't entirely reliable.” [Stephen J. Dubner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-dubner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Data on religion is hard to collect because authorities restrict surveys and groups may exaggerate membership. **In simple terms:** Religious data is unreliable. Key Takeaway Question data sources critically. Themes statistics religion policy Mood skeptical analytical Type informative critical When to use this quote - research - media reporting - public policy - academic studies Key Concepts Data reliability government restriction Questions to Reflect On - How can researchers estimate religious affiliation without direct surveys? - What biases arise from self‑reported membership? A Different Perspective Even with limits, indirect methods can estimate trends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Statistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statistics/) ## Related quotes > [The true foundation of theology is to ascertain the character of God. It is by the aid of Statistics that law in the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/the-true-foundation-of-theology-is-to-ascertain-the-character-of-god/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [“All in all, Christian nation proponents commit several errors in their claims about the religious beliefs of the Founders. Their claims isolate the religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-k-green/all-in-all-christian-nation-proponents-commit-several-errors-in-their/) [Steven K. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-k-green/) > [“Many of the great world religions teach that God demands a particular faith and form of worship. It should not be surprising that SOME…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/many-of-the-great-world-religions-teach-that-god-demands-a-particular/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“Breakdown of religious affiliation in the United States Christians: 78 percent Unaffiliated: 16 Muslims, Hindus, Folk religion, other: 3\* Jews: 2 Buddhists 1 \*all less than 1 percent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/breakdown-of-religious-affiliation-in-the-united-states-christians-78/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many people who say they have no religion are simply saying they have no official religious affiliation. They may actually have strong personal beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/many-people-who-say-they-have-no-religion-are-simply-saying-they-have/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [“Were there atheists in foxholes during World War II? Of course, as can be verified by my dogtags . . . A veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-allen-smith/were-there-atheists-in-foxholes-during-world-war-ii-of-course-as-can/) Warren Allen Smith > [I would describe my spirituality as exactly the opposite of having a religious affiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-would-describe-my-spirituality-as-exactly-the-opposite-of-having-a/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [The so-called religious organizations which now lead the war against the teaching of evolution are nothing more, at bottom, than conspiracies of the inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-so-called-religious-organizations-which-now-lead-the-war-against/) [H. L. 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