Religion as a determinant of marital fertility

There is an extensive literature on the role of religion in fertility behavior in the United States. Research focuses on Catholic-Protestant differentials and how they have changed over time (Jones and Westoff 1979; Mosher and Hendershot 1984a; Mosher et al. 1992); the distinctive fertility behavior of other groups including Mormons, Jews, and persons who have no religious affiliation (Thornton 1979; Della Pergola 1980; Mosher et al. 1992) and the role of differences in religiosity within the various groups (Heaton 1986; Williams and Zimmer 1990; Goldscheider and Mosher 1991).