Ruben Below
@rubenbelow.bsky.social
PhD candidate in Münster.
Interested in religious change, spirituality, conspiracy theories and ideology.
https://www.uni-muenster.de/Religion-und-Politik/personen/projekt/below.shtml
Interested in religious change, spirituality, conspiracy theories and ideology.
https://www.uni-muenster.de/Religion-und-Politik/personen/projekt/below.shtml
Pinned
Ruben Below
@rubenbelow.bsky.social
· Feb 12
Letzte Woche wurde eine Studie zu #Verschwörungsglauben in DE von @yaseminelmenouar.bsky.social , Prof. Ines Michalowski und mir im Rahmen des #Religionsmonitors veröffentlicht. Darin vergleichen wir prominente Erklärungsansätze aus soziologischer Perspektive.
Hier key findings in einem thread ⬇️
Hier key findings in einem thread ⬇️
Reposted by Ruben Below
An updated and expanded new edition of “Religion and Modernity” finds that the importance of religion has declined dramatically across the world, even in former religious strongholds. buff.ly/aJjYN7n
#ReligiousStudies #NonReligion #SociologyOfReligion
#ReligiousStudies #NonReligion #SociologyOfReligion
“Importance of religion has declined dramatically across the world”
Sociologists of religion present a new edition of one of the most comprehensive empirical studies of religious trends across the world – Detlef Pollack: the importance of religion has declined…
buff.ly
July 11, 2025 at 11:02 AM
An updated and expanded new edition of “Religion and Modernity” finds that the importance of religion has declined dramatically across the world, even in former religious strongholds. buff.ly/aJjYN7n
#ReligiousStudies #NonReligion #SociologyOfReligion
#ReligiousStudies #NonReligion #SociologyOfReligion
Reposted by Ruben Below
Nice new study by @victoraraujo.bsky.social on how the growth of evangelicals in Brazil (a fascinating development taking place in other Latin American countries) did & didn't shape their electoral politics over the span of several decades. Really solid analysis.
✝️Does the rise of evangelical Christians reshape electoral politics?
➡️ @victoraraujo.bsky.social shows that Brazil’s evangelical boom is linked to lower voter turnout and greater conservatism, but not to a rise in electoral competition or polarization www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
➡️ @victoraraujo.bsky.social shows that Brazil’s evangelical boom is linked to lower voter turnout and greater conservatism, but not to a rise in electoral competition or polarization www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #FirstView
July 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Nice new study by @victoraraujo.bsky.social on how the growth of evangelicals in Brazil (a fascinating development taking place in other Latin American countries) did & didn't shape their electoral politics over the span of several decades. Really solid analysis.
Reposted by Ruben Below
Across three dozen countries surveyed, adults in Ghana (87%) and India (79%) are most likely to hold this belief, while those in Poland and Israel are among the least likely (29% and 28%, respectively). www.pewresearch.org/...
Spirituality and Religion: How Does the U.S. Compare With Other Countries?
Explore how adults in the U.S. and 35 other countries compare religiously and spiritually when it comes to affiliation, prayer, afterlife beliefs and more, according to Pew Research Center.
www.pewresearch.org
June 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Across three dozen countries surveyed, adults in Ghana (87%) and India (79%) are most likely to hold this belief, while those in Poland and Israel are among the least likely (29% and 28%, respectively). www.pewresearch.org/...
Reposted by Ruben Below
Read my latest Lucid essay, The Iran Strike as a Holy War: open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/...
June 25, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Read my latest Lucid essay, The Iran Strike as a Holy War: open.substack.com/pub/lucid/p/...
Reposted by Ruben Below
New study from @pauldjupe.bsky.social et al. out in @polbehavior.bsky.social. We've often found Christian nationalism & churchgoing are signed in opposite directions in regressions. Authors propose viewing such findings as suppression effects & explore implications.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Attending Church Encourages Acceptance of Atheists? Suppression Effects in Religion and Politics Research - Political Behavior
A proliferation of religion variables presents opportunities for those studying religion and politics in the U.S. However, many studies in this growing subfield demonstrate the pitfalls of reporting t...
link.springer.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:44 AM
New study from @pauldjupe.bsky.social et al. out in @polbehavior.bsky.social. We've often found Christian nationalism & churchgoing are signed in opposite directions in regressions. Authors propose viewing such findings as suppression effects & explore implications.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Ruben Below
Analysis of our new #health #data on the use of alternative medicines has been published by the Journal of Public Health (@springernature.com).
Laura Kemppainen and Teemu Kemppainen (@helsinki.fi 🇫🇮) compared the use of complementary #medicines either side of the pandemic.
Laura Kemppainen and Teemu Kemppainen (@helsinki.fi 🇫🇮) compared the use of complementary #medicines either side of the pandemic.
buff.ly
June 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Analysis of our new #health #data on the use of alternative medicines has been published by the Journal of Public Health (@springernature.com).
Laura Kemppainen and Teemu Kemppainen (@helsinki.fi 🇫🇮) compared the use of complementary #medicines either side of the pandemic.
Laura Kemppainen and Teemu Kemppainen (@helsinki.fi 🇫🇮) compared the use of complementary #medicines either side of the pandemic.
Reposted by Ruben Below
I'm at the Presidential Commission on Religious Freedom and... Yikes. An assemblage of Christian Nationalism, fake history, slander of nonreligious people, and outright Christian Supremacy.
June 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I'm at the Presidential Commission on Religious Freedom and... Yikes. An assemblage of Christian Nationalism, fake history, slander of nonreligious people, and outright Christian Supremacy.
Reposted by Ruben Below
🚨 Are young women becoming more left-wing & young men more right-wing?
We analyzed 32 European countries (1990–2023).
📊 Some show growing gaps—others don’t.
📊 Gaps tend to be bigger where gender equality is higher.
w/ @hudde.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
We analyzed 32 European countries (1990–2023).
📊 Some show growing gaps—others don’t.
📊 Gaps tend to be bigger where gender equality is higher.
w/ @hudde.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
June 16, 2025 at 12:02 PM
🚨 Are young women becoming more left-wing & young men more right-wing?
We analyzed 32 European countries (1990–2023).
📊 Some show growing gaps—others don’t.
📊 Gaps tend to be bigger where gender equality is higher.
w/ @hudde.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
We analyzed 32 European countries (1990–2023).
📊 Some show growing gaps—others don’t.
📊 Gaps tend to be bigger where gender equality is higher.
w/ @hudde.bsky.social
👉 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
Reposted by Ruben Below
My team and I at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman@bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) have a new piece out: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/amer.... In it, we show that through May 2025, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests have dwarfed those in 2017. 🧵
June 13, 2025 at 2:25 AM
My team and I at the Crowd Counting Consortium (@djpressman@bsky.social, Soha Hammam, & Chris Shay) have a new piece out: wagingnonviolence.org/2025/06/amer.... In it, we show that through May 2025, the size and scale of anti-Trump protests have dwarfed those in 2017. 🧵
"a ubiquity of tautological statements dressed up as theory" is one of my new favorite quotes
The replication crisis and the failure of theory within social psychology
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/06/12/t...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/06/12/t...
The replication crisis and the failure of theory within social psychology | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
June 12, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"a ubiquity of tautological statements dressed up as theory" is one of my new favorite quotes
Reposted by Ruben Below
NEW: For years, my team has been working on a report about major changes in the global religious landscape between 2010 and 2020.
Here's the full thing: www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
I'll post key findings below.
Here's the full thing: www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
I'll post key findings below.
How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020
Christians remain the largest religious group, and Muslims grew the fastest from 2010 to 2020. Read how the global share of Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and the religiously unaffiliated changed, according ...
www.pewresearch.org
June 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
NEW: For years, my team has been working on a report about major changes in the global religious landscape between 2010 and 2020.
Here's the full thing: www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
I'll post key findings below.
Here's the full thing: www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
I'll post key findings below.
Reposted by Ruben Below
Feindbild #Diversität?
Das Thema unserer Sommerdebatte am IfS Münster
18.6. | 18 Uhr c.t. | Hörsaal.
Mit Hevidar Isik, Laura Rademacher & Levent Tezcan
Moderation: Katrin Späte
Im Anschluss: Get-Together im Foyer
www.uni-muenster.de/de/veranstal...
Das Thema unserer Sommerdebatte am IfS Münster
18.6. | 18 Uhr c.t. | Hörsaal.
Mit Hevidar Isik, Laura Rademacher & Levent Tezcan
Moderation: Katrin Späte
Im Anschluss: Get-Together im Foyer
www.uni-muenster.de/de/veranstal...
June 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Feindbild #Diversität?
Das Thema unserer Sommerdebatte am IfS Münster
18.6. | 18 Uhr c.t. | Hörsaal.
Mit Hevidar Isik, Laura Rademacher & Levent Tezcan
Moderation: Katrin Späte
Im Anschluss: Get-Together im Foyer
www.uni-muenster.de/de/veranstal...
Das Thema unserer Sommerdebatte am IfS Münster
18.6. | 18 Uhr c.t. | Hörsaal.
Mit Hevidar Isik, Laura Rademacher & Levent Tezcan
Moderation: Katrin Späte
Im Anschluss: Get-Together im Foyer
www.uni-muenster.de/de/veranstal...
Reposted by Ruben Below
Most Americans who engage in astrology, tarot cards or fortune-telling say they do it for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions. 🔮 ⭐ www.pewresearch.org/...
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers
Most who use astrology (or a horoscope), tarot cards or a fortune teller say they do so just for fun rather than for insights about life. Pew Research Center.
www.pewresearch.org
May 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Most Americans who engage in astrology, tarot cards or fortune-telling say they do it for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions. 🔮 ⭐ www.pewresearch.org/...
Reposted by Ruben Below
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
May 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A long long time ago, in a far away galaxy... the US used to tax the rich
Reposted by Ruben Below
Despite recent attention to astrology, the number of Americans who believe in astrology doesn’t appear to have changed much in recent years.
Belief in astrology among U.S. adults
- Oct 2024 survey: 27%
- Dec 2017: 29%
-Gallup polls between 1990-2005: 23-28%
2/6
Belief in astrology among U.S. adults
- Oct 2024 survey: 27%
- Dec 2017: 29%
-Gallup polls between 1990-2005: 23-28%
2/6
May 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Despite recent attention to astrology, the number of Americans who believe in astrology doesn’t appear to have changed much in recent years.
Belief in astrology among U.S. adults
- Oct 2024 survey: 27%
- Dec 2017: 29%
-Gallup polls between 1990-2005: 23-28%
2/6
Belief in astrology among U.S. adults
- Oct 2024 survey: 27%
- Dec 2017: 29%
-Gallup polls between 1990-2005: 23-28%
2/6
Reposted by Ruben Below
NEW from @pewresearch.org
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers ✨🔮
Most say they engage in these practices for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions
pewrsr.ch/43vZaC1
1/6
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers ✨🔮
Most say they engage in these practices for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions
pewrsr.ch/43vZaC1
1/6
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers
Most who use astrology (or a horoscope), tarot cards or a fortune teller say they do so just for fun rather than for insights about life. Pew Research Center.
pewrsr.ch
May 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
NEW from @pewresearch.org
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers ✨🔮
Most say they engage in these practices for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions
pewrsr.ch/43vZaC1
1/6
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers ✨🔮
Most say they engage in these practices for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions
pewrsr.ch/43vZaC1
1/6
Reposted by Ruben Below
New #research published in Vaccine (@elsevierconnect.bsky.social) included analysis of our Round 10 (2020-22) #data.
Aoife-Marie Foran and Jolanda Jetten (University of Queensland 🇦🇺) with Orla T. Muldoon (@unioflimerick.bsky.social 🇮🇪) examined the link between religion, conspiracies and vaccines.
Aoife-Marie Foran and Jolanda Jetten (University of Queensland 🇦🇺) with Orla T. Muldoon (@unioflimerick.bsky.social 🇮🇪) examined the link between religion, conspiracies and vaccines.
Religious group membership and conspiracy beliefs influence vaccine uptake: Insights from 20 European countries
Reports of lower vaccine uptake within religious communities pose a significant public health challenge. While religious group membership is often associated with health benefits, recent research has revealed a paradox: it may also be linked to vaccine hesitancy.
buff.ly
May 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
New #research published in Vaccine (@elsevierconnect.bsky.social) included analysis of our Round 10 (2020-22) #data.
Aoife-Marie Foran and Jolanda Jetten (University of Queensland 🇦🇺) with Orla T. Muldoon (@unioflimerick.bsky.social 🇮🇪) examined the link between religion, conspiracies and vaccines.
Aoife-Marie Foran and Jolanda Jetten (University of Queensland 🇦🇺) with Orla T. Muldoon (@unioflimerick.bsky.social 🇮🇪) examined the link between religion, conspiracies and vaccines.
Reposted by Ruben Below
Important piece in the Michigan Law Review by Steffen Seitz on the growing use of conspiracy charges against left-wing activists—from Stop Cop City to pro-Palestine students.
The charges are designed to suppress and kill social movements
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The charges are designed to suppress and kill social movements
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
May 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Important piece in the Michigan Law Review by Steffen Seitz on the growing use of conspiracy charges against left-wing activists—from Stop Cop City to pro-Palestine students.
The charges are designed to suppress and kill social movements
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The charges are designed to suppress and kill social movements
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Ruben Below
I remember when this was posted on the other site, my concern was that veterans can get free tombstones (with a free religious icon), whereas non-veterans’ families would have to pay more to include a religious icon.
May 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I remember when this was posted on the other site, my concern was that veterans can get free tombstones (with a free religious icon), whereas non-veterans’ families would have to pay more to include a religious icon.
Reposted by Ruben Below
Wow!
Check out this cool working paper.
"War Causes Religiosity"
The authors scraped web images of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of deceased Americans.
They found that people who were randomly drafted into war are at least 20% more likely to have religious gravestones.
Check out this cool working paper.
"War Causes Religiosity"
The authors scraped web images of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of deceased Americans.
They found that people who were randomly drafted into war are at least 20% more likely to have religious gravestones.
May 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Wow!
Check out this cool working paper.
"War Causes Religiosity"
The authors scraped web images of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of deceased Americans.
They found that people who were randomly drafted into war are at least 20% more likely to have religious gravestones.
Check out this cool working paper.
"War Causes Religiosity"
The authors scraped web images of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of deceased Americans.
They found that people who were randomly drafted into war are at least 20% more likely to have religious gravestones.
Reposted by Ruben Below
🚨 Excited to share that my first dissertation paper got published in Politics and Religion this week!
I examine: Is Christian religiosity linked to nativist attitudes?
And does this relationship strengthen when PRR parties are in power?
I examine: Is Christian religiosity linked to nativist attitudes?
And does this relationship strengthen when PRR parties are in power?
May 15, 2025 at 9:58 AM
🚨 Excited to share that my first dissertation paper got published in Politics and Religion this week!
I examine: Is Christian religiosity linked to nativist attitudes?
And does this relationship strengthen when PRR parties are in power?
I examine: Is Christian religiosity linked to nativist attitudes?
And does this relationship strengthen when PRR parties are in power?
Reposted by Ruben Below
Young Nones Might Not Hate Religion. But They Don’t Like the Vibes.
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/chri...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/chri...
Young Nones Might Not Hate Religion. But They Don’t Like the Vibes. - Christianity Today
How Christian Smith's concept of a "Millennial Zeitgeist" helps explain their recent retreat from faith.
www.christianitytoday.com
May 13, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Young Nones Might Not Hate Religion. But They Don’t Like the Vibes.
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/chri...
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/chri...
Reposted by Ruben Below
Even in countries where few people view religion as very important, many hold beliefs in spirits and/or life after death.
For example, few Swedes (7%) say religion is very important to them but nearly two-thirds believe in spirits in animals, parts of nature or objects.
For example, few Swedes (7%) say religion is very important to them but nearly two-thirds believe in spirits in animals, parts of nature or objects.
Believing in Spirits and Life After Death Is Common Around the World
Belief in an afterlife, God and spirits in nature is widespread globally. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to believe in God. Pew Research Center.
www.pewresearch.org
May 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Even in countries where few people view religion as very important, many hold beliefs in spirits and/or life after death.
For example, few Swedes (7%) say religion is very important to them but nearly two-thirds believe in spirits in animals, parts of nature or objects.
For example, few Swedes (7%) say religion is very important to them but nearly two-thirds believe in spirits in animals, parts of nature or objects.
Reposted by Ruben Below
New #openaccess Paper!
doi.org/10.1111/pops...
Many individuals tend to associate spirituality with socially liberal and alternative ways of life, whereas authoritarianism is often linked to conservative, right-wing environments.
doi.org/10.1111/pops...
Many individuals tend to associate spirituality with socially liberal and alternative ways of life, whereas authoritarianism is often linked to conservative, right-wing environments.
Law and order, magical spirits, and false flag operations
Frenken & Imhoff (2025) in Political Psychology
doi.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:18 AM
New #openaccess Paper!
doi.org/10.1111/pops...
Many individuals tend to associate spirituality with socially liberal and alternative ways of life, whereas authoritarianism is often linked to conservative, right-wing environments.
doi.org/10.1111/pops...
Many individuals tend to associate spirituality with socially liberal and alternative ways of life, whereas authoritarianism is often linked to conservative, right-wing environments.
Reposted by Ruben Below
Research published by @ispp-pops.bsky.social featured analysis of our #survey data on conspiracy theories (2020-22).
A group of academics led by Magdalena Adamus (Masaryk University 🇨🇿) investigated the associations between economic anxiety and support for conspiracies.
A group of academics led by Magdalena Adamus (Masaryk University 🇨🇿) investigated the associations between economic anxiety and support for conspiracies.
All you'll feel is doom and gloom: Multiple perspectives on the associations between economic anxiety and conspiracy beliefs
The article investigates whether and how adherence to conspiracy beliefs (CBs) about COVID-19 pandemic might be associated with (and cause) economic anxiety over various cultural settings and time.
buff.ly
April 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Research published by @ispp-pops.bsky.social featured analysis of our #survey data on conspiracy theories (2020-22).
A group of academics led by Magdalena Adamus (Masaryk University 🇨🇿) investigated the associations between economic anxiety and support for conspiracies.
A group of academics led by Magdalena Adamus (Masaryk University 🇨🇿) investigated the associations between economic anxiety and support for conspiracies.