January 2024 Newsletter

Thank you for reading our newsletter and taking an interest in the ARDA. We are excited to continue our mission of bringing you free, high-quality data on religion.

View as Webpage

Free Online "Exploring Religion" Course Materials:


If you are an instructor returning to the classroom, check out our brand-new Online Course! It is free for instructors to adapt for their own use. Exploring Religion is a college-level online course that allows students to learn more about America's diverse religious landscape and discover the shape of religion around the world. Students will explore religion data for themselves with ARDA learning modules and watch interviews with prominent religion scholars. Suggested research projects and readings are included too.

The first sample dataset from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS) initiative is now available to researchers, with the project’s initial full dataset scheduled for release in the coming months through the Center for Open Science (COS).


The GFS, a partnership among Gallup, COS, and researchers at Baylor University and Harvard University, is a $43.4 million, five-year study of 200,000 individuals in 22 countries. The GFS data will be an open-access resource for researchers, journalists, policymakers, and educators worldwide.


While several studies have tracked respondents over time in a single country, the scope and breadth of GFS is unprecedented.


The sample dataset release offers a first glimpse into data that will yield valuable insights over the next several years.


Researchers can access GFS data in three ways:

  • Preregistration: Preregister an analysis plan now to receive early access to the full dataset available in the coming months at cos.io/gfs.
  • Registered Report: Early access is also available to those that submit a Registered Report to a journal. With Registered Reports, a journal reviews the preregistration plan and agrees to publish the findings regardless of the outcome, protecting against publication bias.
  • Public release: Those wishing to receive the data without preregistration can access the non-sensitive data on the first anniversary of data release for each wave. Access to sensitive data will require institutional review board approval.


For more information on GFS’s data access, visit: cos.io/gfs and Sign up for updates.

Data Sets Added:



We are excited to announce that we added five new datasets:


-Study of Spirituality in the United States 2022


-Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, 2020 Winter


-Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey, 2020


-Christian Worldview Measures


-American Trends Panel Wave 106


Looking for even more data? Here are some helpful ARDA links:

-Categorized list of all data files

-Newest additions

Social Media Conversations:


Last month, we posted about the 2007 Baylor Religion Survey, and the decline of church attendance in America.


We also regularly post about conferences, new research, podcasts, lectures, and other opportunities of interest to our readers.


Want to join the conversations? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Anniversaries of Historical Events:


In January, there are many anniversaries of significant events in religious history. These include the Hindu Temple Established in San Francisco (1906), and the founding of Wesleyan College (1836).


In addition to reading about these single events, you can delve into substantially more religious history by viewing any of our nine interactive timelines. These include specific timelines dedicated to religious groups, women, race/ethnicity, and more.

Feature of the Month:



Religion Dictionary


The ARDA's Religion Dictionary includes hundereds of religion and statistical term definitions. Check out our Religion Dictionary here.

2020 U.S. Religion Census Data

Don't forget users can now explore the 2020 U.S. Religion Census - Religious Congregations and Membership Study (RCMS) data on the ARDA! The RCMS compiled data on 372 religious bodies by county in the United States. Create free membership reports at the county, metro, state, and national levels, or create custom denominational reports. Users can also now download the U.S. Religion Census County, Metro Area, and State files for 2020. Explore the 2020 U.S. Religion Census now!

Check out the new General Social Survey 2022 on The ARDA


The revised General Social Survey, 2022 is now live on our website. If you downloaded this dataset previously, please download the latest version here.


The General Social Surveys (GSS) have been conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) annually since 1972 and biannually beginning in 1994. The GSS are designed to be part of a program of social indicator research, replicating questionnaire items and wording in order to facilitate time-trend studies. This data file has all cases and variables asked on the 2022 GSS.

Submitting Data to the ARDA:


Do you have a data source that you would like to store in our archive? The process is safe, easy, and convenient. We even have resources to reimburse you for your time. Get the process started by clicking on the link below. If you know of a data source that you'd like us to pursue, please let us know at [email protected]. Download the submission form here.

The Association of Religion Data Archives | Website
Facebook  Twitter