← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Brian Hassett
Thread ID: 19040 | Posts: 14 | Started: 2005-07-08
2005-07-08 13:59 | User Profile
[font=Arial][size=4]Guess Who Doesn't Believe In God?[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][img]http://cdn-channels.netscape.com/cp/fte/notbelieveingod/i/notbelieveingod135.jpg[/img]Ten percent of Protestants, 21 percent of Roman Catholics, and 52 percent of Jews do NOT believe in God. [/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]That's the surprising word from a new survey by Harris Interactive of 2,306 adults that shows belief in God varies quite widely among different segments of the American public. How often do we go to a place of worship? Not much. Most people attend a religious service less than once a month. Still, Americans are far more likely to believe in God and to attend religious services than people in most other developed countries, particularly in Europe.[/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]Who believes in God? While 79 percent of Americans believe there is a God, only 66 percent are absolutely certain of it. Nine percent do not believe in God and 12 percent aren't sure. And weirdly, not everyone who calls himself or herself a Christian or a Jew actually believes in God. [/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]Who worships at a religious service? Just over half (55 percent) attend a religious service a few times a year or more. Thirty-six percent attend once a month or more often, and just 26 percent say they attend every week. Forty-one percent of women and 31 percent of men attend once a month or more. Protestants (47 percent) are more likely to go to church once a month or more often than are Roman Catholics (35 percent). Jews are least likely to go with 16 percent saying they go to synagogue once a month or more. Church attendance is highest in the Midwest and lowest in the West. [/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]Belief in God by geography and age Eighty-two percent of Midwesterners and Southerners believe in God, compared with 75 percent in the East and West. Our beliefs get stronger as we age. Of those 25 to 29 years old, 71 percent believe in God. That number jumps to 80 percent for people over 40, and hits 83 percent for those 65 and over.[/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]Other fascinating facts about who believes in God:[/size][/font]
[list] [][font=Arial][size=2]84 percent of women believe in God, compared with 73 percent of men.[/size][/font] [][font=Arial][size=2]91 percent of African Americans believe in God, compared with 81 percent of Hispanics and 78 percent of whites.[/size][/font] [][font=Arial][size=2]87 percent of Republicans believe in God, compared with 78 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of Independents.[/size][/font] [][font=Arial][size=2]82 percent of those with no college education believe in God, compared with 73 percent who went to college.[/size][/font] [/list] [url]http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/package.jsp?name=fte/notbelieveingod/notbelieveingod&floc=wn-np[/url]
2005-07-08 14:09 | User Profile
Interesting data, but I must admit to being skeptical. After all, how can a Protestant or Catholic not believe in God? I would like to see the actual questions asked, as well as know the methodology used to select the sample, and the method by which the survey was administered.
2005-07-08 14:12 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Quantrill]Interesting data, but I must admit to being skeptical. After all, how can a Protestant or Catholic not believe in God? I would like to see the actual questions asked, as well as know the methodology used to select the sample, and the method by which the survey was administered.[/QUOTE] Technically, I'm culturally Catholic and religiously an Atheist so it does happen. Many Catholics I know still attend Church for cultural/family reasons and don't have much conviction in a higher power.
2005-07-08 14:37 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Quantrill]Interesting data, but I must admit to being skeptical. After all, how can a Protestant or Catholic not believe in God? I would like to see the actual questions asked, as well as know the methodology used to select the sample, and the method by which the survey was administered.[/QUOTE]
What Brian said, and notice the criteria, "absolutely certain." There probably are a lot of agnostics in churches. They believe in God, but aren't absolutely certain. They go to church for the social functions or because they want their children raise their children they way they themselves were raised.
But, I think we can see by the direction this society is going that there's not a whole lot of real faith in God left in America. Most of the Christian community is divided between liberals and neocons. The liberals hardly even pretend to believe the Bible. The neocons remind me of the pharisees that Jesus so strongly condemned for being all show and no faith.
2005-07-08 14:42 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Happy Hacker]What Brian said, and notice the criteria, "absolutely certain." There probably are a lot of agnostics in churches. They believe in God, but aren't absolutely certain. They go to church for the social functions or because they want their children raise their children they way they themselves were raised.
But, I think we can see by the direction this society is going that there's not a whole lot of real faith in God left in America. Most of the Christian community is divided between liberals and neocons. The liberals hardly even pretend to believe the Bible. The neocons remind me of the pharisees that Jesus so strongly condemned for being all show and no faith.[/QUOTE] Exactly right. At least I'm honest about my position on religion; but how many people do we all know who profess belief in Christianity but only go to church on Easter/Christmas because they're too hung-over on Sunday morning or would rather watch football on tv? If getting drunk on Saturday night is more important to you that your faith, you probably don't have any.
2005-07-08 14:53 | User Profile
Brian, HH, I can see your point. I was not really brought up Christian; it was something I had to come to on my own. Therefore, being a Christian is (for me) intricately bound up with personal belief. The idea of being 'culturally Catholic' (in Brian's phrase) is a foreign one to me, though I guess it is more widespread than I would like to think.
2005-07-08 19:29 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Quantrill]Brian, HH, I can see your point. I was not really brought up Christian; it was something I had to come to on my own. Therefore, being a Christian is (for me) intricately bound up with personal belief. The idea of being 'culturally Catholic' (in Brian's phrase) is a foreign one to me, though I guess it is more widespread than I would like to think.[/QUOTE] Here in the NE, cultural, but non religious catholics, are very common. We are the descendants of the Irish, Itilians and Poles who settled in places like NYC and Boston. I'm sure that things are alot different in the South and West as those areas were usually Protestant.
2005-07-09 01:42 | User Profile
Brian
Come on. You cant possible know what it is to be a Catholic and what is required of you. Being Catholic is not like joining a group of some sort. If you are a member, you must believe in all of the teachings of the Catholic Church and dogmas of the faith, abiding in the commandments and precepts of the Church. You are no longer a member of the Church if you disagree with one of the Dogmas "and believing that Christ is God is one of them" among many others. Dont use the word Catholic if you do not even know what it is to be Catholic. That applies to all who do not. The Catholic superiors of the past 40 years are afraid to tell the members these teaching. Most of which are the same modernist superiors molesting innocent children who deserve the death penalty. They need to speak up so statistics like this will only prove how Catholics are ONE being in communion with each other, believing in ONE faith and teachings,. I could not call myself the president, the mayor or claim to be part of another society without knowing what it is to be in that society. So why do people feel its ok to call themselves Catholic when they are not!!!!
If you have doubt, you are required to research and find answers. Christ's Church is all true. If you study long and hard you will conclude with the ONE, HOLY Apostolic, and CATHOLIC CHURCH. "This is how we are to know the one true Church from the fakes as Christ tells us" You nor anyone that does not believe in Christ OUR Savior or the teaching of the Catholic Church which has been handed down to us over the past 2000 years IS NOT CATHOLIC of any variation. I'm sorry to be so Crude however I am a traditional Catholic following the traditions of the Faith and take it very seriously.
These are the facts. Do a bit of research and you will come to the same conclusion. There are 2000 years of teaching backing this. Modernists of the past 40 or so years think they are smarter than those before them. They are thinking they are inventing a great thing by creating all of these Churches of today. Meanwhile it is nothing but Chaos. Hold fast to tradition as St Paul tells us. We are in the latter days. When you have a chance visit WFTSradio.com for more explanations regarding this.
2005-07-09 02:13 | User Profile
You would be suprised to know that this number is actually high relaitve to the rest of the world. We are much more religious than Europe even if we seem that we are not religious.
2005-07-09 04:19 | User Profile
[QUOTE]
What Brian said, and notice the criteria, "absolutely certain." There probably are a lot of agnostics in churches. They believe in God, but aren't absolutely certain. They go to church for the social functions or because they want their children raise their children they way they themselves were raised.
[/QUOTE]I think this is correct. I know many will say they are, but I don't know how anyone could tuthfully answer they are "absolutely certain"
I would classify my parents as culturally Christian, if I am understanding the meaning of that. They celebrate all of the holidays and go to church(well sometimes.lol) and will say they believe in God, Jesus and everything in the bible,etc. But by other things they say from time to time I don't think they believe completely( or are absolutely certain) in anything.
2005-07-09 09:36 | User Profile
This poll does not measure how many Americans believe in God; it only measures how many respondents do. This presents a problem with presenting the respondents as necessarily representative of "Americans." For example, nonbelievers may have disproportionately responded to the poll.
Even taking the poll at face value, the vast majority of Americans believe in God. Even those who claim not to believe in God, tend to believe in something - often fanatically.
2005-07-09 09:45 | User Profile
[size=3][size=2]Contrary to popular myth, belief in God is not dead in Europe. Of course, secular fundamentalists will continue to claim that "God is dead." Since when do atheist fanatics pay attention to facts? [/size] Majority of Europeans Believe in God[/size]
"97 percent of those interviewed in Poland said they believe in God. Portugal came with 90 percent, and Russia followed with 87 percent. The Czech Republic came in lowest with 37 percent, along with Netherlands (51) and Belgium (58)."
However, the fact that an individual believes in God does not mean that they believe in life after death. Over half (53) of all Europeans believe that physical death is not the end. 43 percent say that religion is necessary to distinguish right from wrong. The Czech Republic (27), the Netherlands (25) and France (24) came in lowest to this conviction whilst countries such as Poland (86), Russia (78) and Switzerland (54) revealed strong views.
When asked if religion is a positive force in the world, 79 percent agreed in Portugal, 78 in Poland, and 72 in Spain. Belgium (39), Russia (36) and the Netherlands (34) answered that they were not that sure.
However, believing in God does not necessarily mean that Germans regard Him as a personal being. 83 percent of all believers say God is present in nature, 75 percent regard Him as their creator and 70 percent say God is an ever-present source in their life.
39 percent say religious faith gives a meaning to life. 45 percent says it gives a sense of protection. One percent said that faith is intimidating. 65 percent of all believers pray to connect with God, with two-thirds of their prayers being for "people who are important to me". Other prayer topics include peace and justice. A relatively small amount of prayers are concerned with "my sins and my salvation" (13) or "my work and my job" (11).
[url]http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:QKh_vfVBD6AJ:www.christiantoday.com/news1/europe/majority.of.europeans.believe.in.god.despite.declining.church.membership./454.htm[/url]
2005-07-09 09:56 | User Profile
[QUOTE=kane123123]You would be suprised to know that this number is actually high relaitve to the rest of the world. We are much more religious than Europe even if we seem that we are not religious.[/QUOTE] I think you would be surprised as to how religious Europeans actually are. The overwhelming rule is that people will always believe in a god (or gods). The only real question is which god(s).
"Turning to modern times, [Greeley] is equally dismissive of the core claims of secularization. Using survey evidence, he argues that Europeans still affirm a surprising level of continuing belief in religious and supernatural doctrines, overwhelmingly in the case of the existence of God, but also with large numbers accepting life after death and miracles. Even in Britain and the former West Germany, 40 percent of respondents claim to believe in miracles. Greeley also argues, very fairly, that Europe is anything but homogenous, and that it is unwise to extrapolate from secular Britain or the Netherlands. The smaller countries often demonstrate higher levels of religious commitment, though sometimes in bizarre or wildly heterodox forms, and occult and New Age doctrines are especially strong in the former Soviet Bloc." - Phillip Jenkins, "Rethinking Secularization," Published by Christianity Today, May 22, 2003 [size=4][color=#000080] [/color][/size]
2005-07-09 14:32 | User Profile
[QUOTE=1truefaith]Brian
Come on. You cant possible know what it is to be a Catholic and what is required of you. Being Catholic is not like joining a group of some sort. If you are a member, you must believe in all of the teachings of the Catholic Church and dogmas of the faith, abiding in the commandments and precepts of the Church. You are no longer a member of the Church if you disagree with one of the Dogmas "and believing that Christ is God is one of them" among many others. Dont use the word Catholic if you do not even know what it is to be Catholic. That applies to all who do not. The Catholic superiors of the past 40 years are afraid to tell the members these teaching. Most of which are the same modernist superiors molesting innocent children who deserve the death penalty. They need to speak up so statistics like this will only prove how Catholics are ONE being in communion with each other, believing in ONE faith and teachings,. I could not call myself the president, the mayor or claim to be part of another society without knowing what it is to be in that society. So why do people feel its ok to call themselves Catholic when they are not!!!!
If you have doubt, you are required to research and find answers. Christ's Church is all true. If you study long and hard you will conclude with the ONE, HOLY Apostolic, and CATHOLIC CHURCH. "This is how we are to know the one true Church from the fakes as Christ tells us" You nor anyone that does not believe in Christ OUR Savior or the teaching of the Catholic Church which has been handed down to us over the past 2000 years IS NOT CATHOLIC of any variation. I'm sorry to be so Crude however I am a traditional Catholic following the traditions of the Faith and take it very seriously.
These are the facts. Do a bit of research and you will come to the same conclusion. There are 2000 years of teaching backing this. Modernists of the past 40 or so years think they are smarter than those before them. They are thinking they are inventing a great thing by creating all of these Churches of today. Meanwhile it is nothing but Chaos. Hold fast to tradition as St Paul tells us. We are in the latter days. When you have a chance visit WFTSradio.com for more explanations regarding this.[/QUOTE] Actually, I'm familiar with Catholic dogma, as well as broader Christianity, Islam, Judaism and some eastern religions. You are stuck on the religious aspect of religion; but there is also a strong cultural component to it as well. The Church at one time was the government for most of Europe and for many people in countries like Ireland the Priests took on a role not only as a spiritual guide, but also as a local politician. There are even cases of priests leading Irish rebellions or advising French kings in matters of state. So, yes, one can study the history of Catholicism from a theological or sociological perspective.