This post is about a notable man about whom I have mixed feelings and about a notable research center about which I have much appreciation. I am writing about J. Howard Pew, who died 50 years ago (on Nov. 27, 1971) at the age of 89, and about the Pew Research Center, sponsored mainly by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
The Notable J. Howard Pew
In the Presbyterian church in the small city of Bradford, Pennsylvania,
the pews were often occupied by Pews. Joseph Newton Pew, Sr., (1848~1912), founder
of the Sun Oil Company (later Sonoco), was a devout Presbyterian and he raised
his children to be the same.
In 1876, the Presbyterians started a “normal school” in Grove City,
Penn. After it became Grove City College, J. Howard Pew enrolled there,
graduating at the age of 18 in 1900. Later he served as president of the board
of trustees of his alma mater for four decades.
After his father’s death, J. Howard became the president of Sun Oil Company
at the age of 30 and soon became a wealthy man.
Pew was a strong conservative, both theologically and politically. Using
his oil money, he helped found the National Association of
Evangelicals in 1942, Fuller Theological Seminary in 1947, and Christianity
Today, the influential
evangelical magazine launched by Billy Graham, in 1956.
Politically, Pew was a staunch Republican and opponent of FDR and the
New Deal in the 1930s. In 2018, one scholar wrote about Pew’s “Godly Conservatism.” His conservative politics were
rooted in his conservative evangelical views.
The Notable Pew Research Center
While I disagree with many of J. Howard Pew’s
theological and political views, I much appreciate the work of the Pew Research
Center, which since 1996 has been largely supported by The Pew Charitable
Trusts, which was established by Pew and his siblings.
In spite of Pew’s strong conservative
evangelical and Republican views, The Pew Research Center (PRC) is a
non-partisan think tank, or as it refers to itself, a “fact tank.”
Now based in Washington, D.C., PRC describes itself as “a
nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and
trends shaping the world.”
They go on to explain, “We conduct public
opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven
social science research. We do not take policy positions.”
Society benefits greatly from the extensive
work of the PRC as it provides accurate information on social issues, public
opinion, and trends shaping the United States and the world.
A Notable Pew Research Center Survey
On November 18, PRC released a
report titled “What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies.”
That survey clearly indicates that one source of meaning is predominant:
family.
In 14 of the 17 advanced economies surveyed,
more mention their family as a source of meaning in their lives than any other
factor.
However, outside of the U.S., religion is
never one of the top 10 sources of meaning cited—and no more than 5% of any
non-U.S. public mention it. In this country, however, 15% mention religion or
God as a source of meaning, making it the fifth most mentioned topic.
Here is a chart showing how the 17 countries ranked on the “what makes life meaningful” poll.
Back in 1912, Walter
Rauschenbusch, the proponent of the social gospel that was opposed by
conservative evangelicals such as J. Howard Pew, wrote,
No material comfort and plenty can satisfy the restless soul in us and give us peace with ourselves. All who have made test of it agree that religion alone holds the key to the ultimate meaning of life.**
I agree with Rauschenbusch and with the 15% in
this country who say that faith makes life meaningful.
What about you?
_____
** These significant words are included in To
Live in God: Daily Reflections with Walter Rauschenbusch (2020), p. 21.
