A new Harris Poll confirms the common understanding that the United States is a nation steeped in the core beliefs of Christianity, all of which continue to be held by a large majority of the nation today. Spreading belief around the Invisible Cafeteria a bit, significant minorities of Americans also believe in ghosts, UFOs, witches, astrology, and in reincarnation.
The survey also found that women are more likely than men to hold both Christian and non-Christian beliefs, Republicans are more likely than Democrats and Independents to hold Christian beliefs, and the level of belief is generally highest among people without a college education and lowest among those with postgraduate degrees.
Other findings: the 82 percent of adults who believe in God include 86 percent of women and 93 percent of Republicans but only 78 percent of men, 75 percent of political independents, and 69 percent of those with postgraduate degrees.
The 73 percent of adults who believe in miracles include 79 percent of women, 83 percent of those with high school education or less and 76 percent of Republicans while 66 percent of men, 65 percent of Independents, and 50 percent of post graduates believe in such Divine Intervention.
The 70 percent of those who believe in the survival of the soul after death include 82 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of women, but only 66 percent of men. Three-quarters (76%) of those without a college degree share this belief but only 53 percent of those with postgraduate degrees believe in more than ashes to ashes after we leave this mortal coil.
The 70 percent who believe in heaven includes 76 percent of women and 64 percent of men. This falls to 60 percent of Independents and 49 percent among people with postgraduate degrees, who are just too damned educated for such childish notions it would appear. Six in ten adults believe in the devil (61%) and in hell (59%).
No wonder so many Americans think a little Intelligent Design tossed in with evolutiony theory in school can't do any harm.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Victor Lana
What a country indeed, Eric. The funny thing is that if we all appreciate faith, why can't we appreciate the faiths of others (and be respectful)? That's the thing that boggles my mind.
As for the ghost angle, I remember as a kid blessing myself and saying, "In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost." Somewhere along the line they changed it to "holy spirit," but by that time I still believed in that ghost and others too.
2 - Screen Rant
Well the majority of Americans may believe in God but if the comments section of this website (and many others) is any indication, the majority of websurfers do not.
Vic
3 - Eric Olsen
the nonbelievers are a very verbal and prolific segment, I agree. The Internet skews a lot of things, still, I believe, vs the attitudes of the general public. it is still not a microcosm and might not be for another generation
4 - JR
Screen Rant: Well the majority of Americans may believe in God but if the comments section of this website (and many others) is any indication, the majority of websurfers do not.
I see just the opposite. Do a poll: I bet God gets a majority here too.
5 - Eric Olsen
probably so JR, but a much smaller majority than in the general population
6 - gonzo marx
Eric O. sez...
*Or we might be a pack of superstitious dupes unwilling to wake up and smell the postmodern humanism.*
best...line...of...the...day
the big E wins today's Flying Fickle Finger of Fate award for that bit of prose...
as for the Post itself...here's a nifty one for ya...take out a dollar bill, look at the back
yes, there is "in god we trust"....but notice the pyramid with the triangle eye above it and the latin underneath?
"Novus Ordo Seclorum"
that means..."new secular order"
and the pyramid with the eye belongs to the Deist symbology of the Masonic Order
nifty huh?
Excelsior!
7 - Screen Rant
Yup. And as Eric pointed out the non-religious folks are VERY vocal. I've read many posts talking about how narrow-minded and judgemental Christians are, but I'm really taken aback by the level of venom I've seen launched from the other side against Christians on forums such as these. Comments utterly and totally dismissing faith as fantasy and superstition, and usually not in a very humane way. Comments belittling those who believe, just shy of calling them stupid or ignorant (if not doing so outright).
I can see why believers would shy away from responding when they'd have to subject themselves to that kind of abuse. It's difficult to have a rational discussion with someone who just keeps coming back to "you're narrow minded" or "you're trying to impose your morals on everyone".
I started out a skeptic, but I'll tell you that the more research I did, the more digging and reading, the more I became convinced that Christianity is true. How many naysayers have actually spent any time reading the Bible, or applied any kind of thoughtful, logical thought process to the Christian Faith?
I would highly recommend "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. It was written by an investigative journalist who set out to prove that Christianity was false.
Instead he ended up a believer.
Vic
8 - ClubhouseCancer
I love the argument that anyone who doesn't buy the Jesus myths just somehow hasn't looked into the topic deeply enough or thought about it enough. As if anyone growing up in the US could escape Christianity! The average Joe can certainly name more apostles than Supreme Court justices, and more books of the Bible than Shakespeare plays.
And if you're educated, you've read and studied the Bible as literature and its ramifications for history and Western thought ad infinitum. I wish I hadn't wasted so many of my college hours poring through this crazy patchwork of mythology â€" time I could have spent studying Beethoven or something grand and joyous.
Sorry, I know plenty about Jesus, thanks. And I'm not buying.
Please note from the post that those with higher degrees (those more likely to have actually studied the Bible and its attendant literature and church history) are less likely to believe in these particular ghost stories.
9 - Screen Rant
See, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Believers are not "highly educated" (ie. "more ignorant") than those enlightened atheists, is that right?
It's not like universities are skewed towards secular humanism to the nth degree, now are they?
I'll tell you what is the most difficult thing about Christianity for me: Maintaining decorum when discussing the subject and not just going off on patronizing posts like this, since it's my nature to be an "in your face" kind of guy.
Of course there's no historical/archaeological evidence that supports the bible is there?
Give me a break oh highly educated and enlightened one.
Maybe you could tell us exactly what about Jesus is a myth, hmm?
Vic
10 - ClubhouseCancer
I never said anything like this:
"Believers are not "highly educated" (ie. "more ignorant") than those enlightened atheists, is that right?"
I said more highly educated people have more exposure to the Bible. The survey said those with higher education belive in God at a lower rate than others. Which part is wrong?
Thanks for the compliments re: my education. I am proud of it and worked hard for it.
11 - Dave Nalle
I have the post graduate degrees and all the excess education you could ask for, and while I don't believe in god I still have beliefs which I hold very, very strongly, and I think that's part of being an American. Even if my belief in freedom and justice and human rights and natural law and personal responsibility don't involve a deity, I'm just as fanatical about them as the bible thumper down the street is about his invisible father figure. I suspect that in decadent Europe even those kinds of strongly held political/philosophical beliefs are unpopular in the face of a culture of self-indulgence and moral relativism.
Dave
12 - Screen Rant
"Thanks for the compliments re: my education. I am proud of it and worked hard for it."
Hey, I'm not slamming your having attained higher education. It's a lot of work getting there and I congratulate you. I'm just saying that if the place where the Bible is studied is somewhere that has an inherent anti-religious slant, of course you're going to walk away with the view that it's all "ghost stories".
Still waiting on those "Jesus is myth" points.
Vic
13 - Screen Rant
"...in the face of a culture of self-indulgence and moral relativism."
Sure sounds to me like the direction the U.S. is heading. Moral relativism is the "big thing" right now (at least in the online community). It can be used to justify just about any self-indulgent behavior.
Vic
14 - ClubhouseCancer
So now the standard changes, and you don't accept my Bible study. It's not just "actually spen[ding] any time reading the Bible, or appl[ying] any kind of thoughtful, logical thought process to the Christian Faith," but rather conducting this study in a place without an "anti-religious slant."
Yawn.
As for the Jesus myths, I'm sure there's nothing I could say about the actual literal truth of the Gospel stories that would not be construed as an insult. So no thanks.
15 - Eric Olsen
I am a Christian, but believe moral absolutism (jihad, etc) is just as dangerous as moral relativism. I believe in relative absolutism
16 - Eric Olsen
and thanks Gonzo, I liked that part too
17 - Screen Rant
Pointless to continue this conversation.
Vic
18 - ClubhouseCancer
Of course, I have been accused of thinking my secular humanism doesn't stink.
19 - Jesus
It is I. What are you getting me for my birthday?
20 - ClubhouseCancer
Of course it's pointless, Screen Rant. You'll never accept that one could study this stuff and not believe in the Jesus myths. You asked whether any non-believers have actually looked into this stuff seriously, but you won't accept that the answer is yes, so why bother asking?
I don't really care that much anyway. It's more important to me what a person thinks about Mozart or Mahler or Joyce or Richter than what he thinks about Jesus.
21 - ClubhouseCancer
James, Judas, Simon, Thomas ... are you?
And Happy Birthday!
22 - Screen Rant
Sigh.
The reason I asked for examples of your "myths" was in order to be able to discuss the topic intelligently and give factual counterpoints.
Best,
Vic
23 - Christopher Rose
Faithists always argue that people shouldn't criticise if they haven't studied the details of their own particular god cult. This is clearly absurd.
There is zero evidence for the existence of any gods whatsoever so the ins and outs of any particular mythology are moot. There is far too much public indulgence of these ludicrous concepts, although I would defend anybody's right to whatever private belief they want.
There is far too strong an impulse in the world today to be bossily telling others what to do or think, how to live and die. This seems to be as common in the USA as anywhere else in the world. The world would be a far better place if we all poured some of this misdirected energy into improving those things we all share on this little world and not trying to foist our own ideas on others.
24 - Jesus
Repent and you shall be forgiven.
25 - Screen Rant
Man, these threads just KILL my productivity. :-)
"Faithists always argue that people shouldn't criticise if they haven't studied the details of their own particular god cult. This is clearly absurd."
It is not absurd. If anything you should be interested in studying them to disprove them if you're intent on defending your beliefs. For example I live in Utah and have done much reading on the Mormon church and based on the evidence have come to the conclusion that it is a false religion.
Good people, but misguided. Of course I know one or two folks in this thread who will attribute at least the "misguided" portion of that statement to me.
Vic