AARRRRRRGGGHHHH!!

In fairness, to the social scientist in this interview, he doesn't really address the most critical factor that would explain the results he's describing. That factor is: Do the people who saunter past the church perhaps live close by and, if so, did they CHOOSE to live in that neighbourhood BECAUSE there was a church of their persuasion close by?

I know for a fact that people do choose to live in neighbourhoods that have amenities that are important to them: schools for their young children, public libraries, shopping centers, proximity to place where they work or at least easy access, bus service, major traffic arteries, etc., to their workplace. Any of these factors would negate the conclusions of which he speaks.

If they live nearby because there is a church of their pursuasion nearby, of course they would more likely be seen walking past it and of course they may have more believing-practicing-Christian attitudes, beliefs and values.

We need to know that if we are to evaluate the research of which he speaks. It isn't a trivial factor. It's critical. It's preposterous to believe merely walking past a church is likely to cause a person to temporarily change his views.