Sinan AlperAlper, Sinan2025-10-0620211948-55061948-551410.1177/19485506209232332-s2.0-85087403117http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1948550620923233https://gcris.yasar.edu.tr/handle/123456789/5833https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550620923233Recent research suggested that illness-related search predicts religious search on Google. In the current research I aimed to replicate this finding and investigate whether such association depends on the existing level of religiosity. In Study 1 I reanalyze an existing data set on search behavior for 630 consecutive weeks and show that although illness-related search predicts religious search in 16 different countries this association does not depend on the religiosity level of the countries. The same finding was replicated in within-nation comparisons of the U.S. states (Study 2) and Turkish provinces (Study 3). In all studies during a period of 235 consecutive weeks illness-related search predicted religious search but the differences in religiosity among regions did not influence this association which arguably might not be consistent with the terror management theory. I argue that such a finding shows the necessity of considering all alternative theories when interpreting the effects of mortality salience.Englishinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessdeath, illness, mortality salience, religion, terror management theoryTERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY, MORTALITY SALIENCE, CONSERVATIVE SHIFT, MORAL FOUNDATIONS, BELIEF, DEATH, THREATEN, LIBERALS, LIFEMortality SalienceTerror Management TheoryDeathIllnessReligionArticle