Press Release

For Immediate Release
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004

Media Contact
Dr. Miki Vasquez
The Barnabas Institute
505-438-0437
800-459-3877
www.barnabasinstitute.org

Three Years After 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, Many In Santa Fe Say They Are Thinking More About Religion And Taking Action To Be More Religious

SANTA FE - Three years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a new poll finds that tens of thousands of Santa Fe residents are thinking more about religion and taking action to be more religious in their daily lives.

The poll was commissioned by the Barnabas Institute, a nondenominational religious organization in based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Preliminary survey findings include the following:

• Thirty percent of the 1,000 residents interviewed said they are thinking more about the religious or spiritual side of their lives. This represents more than 29,000 adults in Santa Fe county.
• Residents of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin are thinking more about the spiritual side of their lives than non-Hispanics (37% v. 23%).
• More than one-third (38% - more than 15,000) of adult Catholics say they are thinking more about the religious or spiritual side of life.
• Even 19% of those who attend religious services less than once a year or never (45% of adults, equivalent to 44,000 Santa Feans) say that they are thinking more about the spiritual.

"Although nearly three years have passed since 9/11, it is clear that its impact is still strongly felt in Santa Fe," noted Miki Vasquez, president of the Barnabas Institute. "Churches in the area and nationally should be thinking of how to satisfy the needs of both Christians and non-Christians who want to be more religious.

"Results of a national poll of 2,000 adults that we conducted in July reinforce this conclusion," she said. "Nationally, 32% of adults said that they were more concerned about the religious or spiritual side of their lives since 9/11."

About the Santa Fe Poll
The telephone poll of a representative sample of 1,000 adult residents of Santa Fe County was conducted by Research and Polling, Inc., of Albuquerque, during the week of August 23-28, 2004. The findings have a margin of error of 3.1%. More information is available from the Barnabas Institute at 1-800-459-3877, or visit www.barnabasinstitute.org.

About the Barnabas Institute
The Barnabas Institute is a nondenominational religious organization that is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Institute combines scholarly research with person-to-person programs that provide inspiration, support and practical help for people who want to live a Christian life.