140000 RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

Category Description

2003-2006: This category captures formal religious activities normally associated with membership in or identification with specific religions or denominations. Such activities include attending regular and special religious services and participating in other religion-related activities, such as church choirs, youth groups, orchestras, or unpaid teaching (unless identified as volunteer activities). This category also includes personal religious practices, such as praying, and personal spiritual practices not necessarily affiliated with formal religion. Reading the Bible or other holy text or scripture (Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure (120000)) is not included here. (Modified for clarity: April 2006)

2007+: This category captures formal religious activities normally associated with membership in or identification with specific religions or denominations. Such activities include attending regular and special religious services and participating in other religion-related activities, such as church choirs, youth groups, orchestras, or unpaid teaching (unless identified as volunteer activities). This category also includes personal religious practices, such as praying, and personal spiritual practices not necessarily affiliated with formal religion. (Revised: January 2007)

Activity Coding Rules

Attending wakes, funerals, and memorial services

2003+: Code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Attending religious services (140101).

Attending weddings

2003+: Code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Attending religious services (140101).

Attending receptions (including wedding receptions)

2003+: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Attending or Hosting Social Events/Attending or hosting parties, receptions, or ceremonies (120201).

Meditating

2003+: Code as Personal Care/Health-Related Self Care/Health-related self-care (010301). Exception: If verbatim specifically mentions meditating for religious purposes, code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Participation in religious practices (140102).

Reading or studying the Bible/Koran/Torah/other Holy Scriptures/devotions

2003-2006: Code as Socializing, Relaxing, and Leisure/Relaxing and Leisure/Reading for personal interest (120312). Exception: If "for class for degree" or "for class for personal interest" is in the verbatim, code as Education/Taking Class/Taking class for degree, certification, or licensure (060101) or Education/Taking Class/Taking class for personal interest (060102).

2007+: If the respondent reported "reading/studying the Bible" or "reading/studying the [Koran/Torah/other Holy Scriptures/devotions]," code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Participation in religious practices (140102). Exception: If the respondent reported reading/studying scriptures for a religious class, such as "reading the Bible for Sunday school," code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Religious education activities (140105). (Modified: January 2007)

Attending Sunday school or Bible study

2004-2006: Code as Education/Taking Class/Taking class for personal interest (060102). (Added: February 2004)

2007+: Code "attending Sunday school," "attending Bible study," and other organized group religious education activities as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Religious education activities (140105). Also code activities related to organized group religious education activities, such as "preparing materials for Bible study" in category 140105. (Modified: January 2007)

Conducting religious rites in the home

2004+: Code as Participation in religious practices (140102). (Added: February 2004)

Going door-to-door to speak about one's religion

2005+: Code as Participation in religious practices (140102). (Added: March 2005)

Security procedures

2003+: If respondent reports undergoing security procedures (such as "passing through the metal detector," "being searched at security checkpoint," "opening bags for security search") related to attending or participating in religious or spiritual practices, code as Security procedures related to religious and spiritual activities (140104).

Teaching/leading Bible study

2007+: Code as Religious and Spiritual Activities/Religious or Spiritual Practices/Religious education activities (140105). Exception: If the activity is designated as a volunteer activity, then code as Volunteer Activities/Social Service and Care Activities (except medical)/Teaching, leading, counseling, mentoring (150204). If the activity is designated as for pay, code in the appropriate work activity (500000). (Added: January 2007)

  • 140100 RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

    • 140101 ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a baptism/christening
      • Attending a bar mitzvah/briss
      • Attending a blessing (2007+)
      • Attending church revival
      • Attending church services
      • Attending confirmation service
      • Attending funerals
      • Attending mosque
      • Attending synagogue
      • Attending temple
      • Attending wakes, memorial services
      • Attending/hearing confession (2007+)
      • Attending/participating in weddings
      • Leading blessings (2007+)

    • 140102 PARTICIPATION IN RELIGIOUS PRACTICES

      Category activity examples

      • Attending a religious retreat (2004+)
      • Attending a wedding rehearsal (2007+)
      • Attending church choir practice
      • Attending church circle meeting (2018+)
      • Attending Passover Seder (2008+)
      • Cleaning up after religious ceremonies
      • Conducting religious rites in the home (2004+)
      • Decorating for religious ceremonies
      • Leading church choir, musical groups
      • Lighting Advent wreath (2004+)
      • Lighting menorah candles (Hanukkah) (2004+)
      • Listening to Bible audio (2015+)
      • Meditating for religious purposes (2007+)
      • Opening Advent calendar day (2004+)
      • Participating in church musical performance
      • Playing the church organ
      • Praying alone
      • Praying with household child (2012+)
      • Praying with non-household child (2012+)
      • Praying with others
      • Preparing the sacrament/communion (2007+)
      • Preparing food for a Seder (2008+)
      • Putting flowers on graves
      • Reading the Bible/Koran/Torah/Talmud/scriptures (2007+)
      • Rehearsing for religious ceremonies
      • Saying prayers for a Seder (2007+)
      • Singing in the church choir
      • Studying the Bible/Koran/scriptures (2007+)
      • Ushering for religious services
      • Visiting graves

    • 140103 WAITING ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

      Category activity examples

      • Waiting associated with religious and spiritual activities (2006+)

    • 140104 SECURITY PROCEDURES RELATED TO RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

      Category activity examples

      • Being searched at security checkpoint (religious activities)
      • Opening bags for security search (religious activities)
      • Passing through metal detector (religious activities)

    • 140105 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES (2007+)

      Category activity examples

      • Attending Bible study (2007+)
      • Attending confirmation class/attending Sunday school (2007+)
      • Attending pre-Cana class (2007+)
      • Distributing religious literature (2007+)
      • Leading religious youth group (2007+)
      • Memorizing verses for confirmation class (2007+)
      • Preparing materials for Bible study (2007+)
      • Reading (other: confirmation class) (2007+)
      • Reading/studying scriptures for Sunday school (2007+)
      • Teaching bat/bar mitzvah class (2007+)
      • Teaching Sunday school (2007+)
      • Teaching/leading Bible study (2007+)

  • 149900 RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES, N.E.C.