92% of Americans believe in God

[ehbowen]

Just thought I ought to throw this one out for discussion:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99945,00.html

[WildCat]

But does God believe in Americans?

[Brown]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Just thought I ought to throw this one out for discussion...Curious: nowhere was there any attempt in the poll to define "God."

As Carl Sagan remarked in "Broca's Brain," the answer to the question "Do you believe in God?" depends upon how you define "God."

Vincent Bugliosi, in "Outrage," says a similar thing in a different way. Bugliosi says that the question "Do you believe in God?" is faulty because it "assumes a fact not in evidence."

[Nasarius]

Does it scare anyone else that a full 24% believe in witches?

[c4ts]

Originally posted by Brown
Curious: nowhere was there any attempt in the poll to define "God."
Was there really a need to do so for that type of study? Surely anyone who answers "yes" must have some idea of what God is. The particulars always vary, but it's essentially the same kind of entity. Perhaps some people could interpret it as the particular God they believe in, or disbelieve, but that's just an opinion getting the better of them.

[reprise]

Originally posted by Nasarius
Does it scare anyone else that a full 24% believe in witches?

Not as much as the percentage of Americans who believe in George W Bush scares me...

I wonder what ghosts have done to piss people off - the number of people who believe in them has dropped 7% since July 2002 and the number who don't believe in them has increased 9%.

71% of people believe in the Devil and 74% believe in Hell.

I'd love to know what method was used for selecting the people to be polled...

[Brown]

Originally posted by c4ts
Was there really a need to do so for that type of study? Surely anyone who answers "yes" must have some idea of what God is. The particulars always vary, but it's essentially the same kind of entity. Perhaps some people could interpret it as the particular God they believe in, or disbelieve, but that's just an opinion getting the better of them. I suppose you're right, the idea was that people believe in a God as they themselves define "God." I don't agree that "God" is essentially the same kind of entity for everyone. Rather, I expect that if you defined "God" in different ways, you would get wildly different poll results.

If you asked whether people believed in a diety that lived on Mount Olympus and threw firebolts, then a lot more people would answer that they were atheists or agnostics.

If you asked whether people believed in a "God" that was "a sum total of all things that exist," then even some folks who think of themselves as atheists and agnostics might answer "yes."

[UnrepentantSinner]

4 out of 5 dentists recommend Trident for their patients who chew gum.

So what?

[ehbowen]

Originally posted by Brown
As Carl Sagan remarked in "Broca's Brain," the answer to the question "Do you believe in God?" depends upon how you define "God."

I'm reminded of the old saw about a definition of pornography: "Maybe I can't define it for the dictionary, but I know it when I see it."

The problem with trying to "define" God is that God is not a static target. As your ability to appreciate him grows, you find that your understanding of him grows as well. Think upon all the partial descriptions of God you may have heard from childhood. "A big man in the sky who watches you all the time?" Yes, he is that, but he is more. "The creator and sustainer of the world and the universe?" Yes, he is that, but he is more. "The ultimate Judge of all men?" Yes, he is that, but, again, he is more.

Personally, I believe that it is his plan to bring all men to that point where they finally accept and admit that there is a God, regardless of how they may "define" that. Once that is accomplished, then he works to encourage men to see through the tangle of false gods and search for the true God. And once that step is taken, then it is possible to begin to truly learn about and appreciate God--not so much for what he can do, like some great big Santa in the sky, but for who and what he is as a person, his nature and character. Some of us are further along in that process than others, but at some point I believe that we all, willingly or unwillingly, will come to that point of understanding. And that will truly be the fulfillment of the promise that "...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

[Graham]

Originally posted by ehbowen
"...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Not mine son, not in this . . . existence.

If it turns out I've been wrong all along, just let me get close enough to poke that bast*** Jesus in the eye.

"Judge that, ya sandal-wearing hippy!"

[Graham]

Originally posted by ehbowen

Some of us are further along in that process than others, but at some point I believe that we all, willingly or unwillingly, will come to that point of understanding.

I'm sorry but in all seriousness, how pleased with yourself are you?

"Some of us aurther along in the process than others"? Ever notie how your entire belief system is geared towards making you feel superior Eric?

"Willingly or unwillingly?" Right. :rolleyes:

[Bluegill]

Originally posted by Nasarius
Does it scare anyone else that a full 24% believe in witches?

Another problem with defining the subject of the poll. There are witches. There are people who call themselves witches, practice ritual spellcasting, get all jivey on the equinoxes, etc. The poll should have asked, "Do you believe that there are people who are capable of casting spells and hexes, using magic?"

[whitefork]

They should really ask "do you believe that Mrs. Heaney down on Pine St can turn you into a toad?".

If they get enough positive responses, we can go hang her.

[Crossbow]

What I found odd was that 74% believe in Hell but 71% believe in Satan.

So I guess there are some people who think that there is a Hell without a Devil.

[Gregor]

I'm offended that they left my personal lord and savior Bob Dobbs off the list.

If you know Bob, you trust and love Bob.

The more you study Bob, the more you'll understand Bob.

Some of us are further along in our study of Bob, and you plebians will someday find you've wasted your lives with these false gods.

Praise slack.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Bluegill


Another problem with defining the subject of the poll. There are witches. There are people who call themselves witches, practice ritual spellcasting, get all jivey on the equinoxes, etc. The poll should have asked, "Do you believe that there are people who are capable of casting spells and hexes, using magic?"
You beat me to it. I'd bet, though, that the numbers aren't that dissimilar. It seems that only skeptics like us can agree that witches exist but they can't do magic(k).

[whitefork]

Originally posted by Crossbow
So I guess there are some people who think that there is a Hell without a Devil. Good management and automation, and perhaps a bit of outsourcing, may have made it possible for the devil to retire - the self-sustaining Hell. I've worked for companies seem to have a similar business plan.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by ehbowen



The problem with trying to "define" God is that God is not a static target.

You summed it up pretty good... Maybe you should have stopped there...


Personally, I believe that it is his plan to bring all men to that point where they finally accept and admit that there is a God, regardless of how they may "define" that. Once that is accomplished, then he works to encourage men to see through the tangle of false gods and search for the true God...

.......Some of us are further along in that process than others, but at some point I believe that we all, willingly or unwillingly, will come to that point of understanding. And that will truly be the fulfillment of the promise that "...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father...


Interesting.. You think you might get lucky, and have it happen while you are still alive?

Good thing that you have stumbled onto the truth, so you don't have to worry about all that ' hell ' stuff...

You'd think God might make understanding him a little easier, so you don't have billions coming and going without getting the big picture.. Particularly that big bunch, that God decided to drown a while back..

And, exactly how does that ' unwillingly come to the point of understanding ', work? Is it anything like the inquisition?

[Mercutio]

I have always thought that most major religions agree on two fundamental tenets:

1) We are right.

2) Everybody else is wrong.

I happen to agree with the second one. I would like to see the results of the survey if they asked how many people believed in "the other guy's god". How many christians would agree they believe in allah, for instance? We try to make sense of the results by combining the different definitions of god into one all-encompassing definition, when in the real world even differences within the same major religion may lead to car-bombings. I am willing to accept that all these definitions of god amount to the same thing--if and when Pat Robertson says it is ok to pledge to the flag using "one nation under allah", "one nation under thor", or "one nation under Girl6". Until then, I will not lump categories together, and I'll keep my G6 shrine to myself.

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Mercutio
I have always thought that most major religions agree on two fundamental tenets:

1) We are right.

2) Everybody else is wrong.I'm fairly certain that we Unitarians don't hold the second tenet and I'm kinda fuzzy if we hold the first.....

But then, it's absolutely possible that Unitarianism isn't a major religion either.

[Ipecac]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Personally, I believe that it is his plan to bring all men to that point where they finally accept and admit that there is a God, regardless of how they may "define" that. Once that is accomplished, then he works to encourage men to see through the tangle of false gods and search for the true God. And once that step is taken, then it is possible to begin to truly learn about and appreciate God--not so much for what he can do, like some great big Santa in the sky, but for who and what he is as a person, his nature and character. Some of us are further along in that process than others, but at some point I believe that we all, willingly or unwillingly, will come to that point of understanding. And that will truly be the fulfillment of the promise that "...every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Is your "God" stupid or incompetent? How easy would it be to convince every person on earth that he exists and teach us "what he can do"? All he has to do is show up and do a few godlike things.

A "God" who expects everyone to figure out all of the above with no evidence in his favor and a host of evidence against is either stupid or incompetent.

Or perhaps he doesn't even exist.

[volant]

In a 1990 Gallop poll, 41% of people polled believed at one time, dinosaurs and humans lived simultaneously. Eh! And these are the people who vote, damn that scares me.

[Sandy M]

I would hazard a guess that there are a fairly large percentage of people who when asked that question would say they "believed" in God, simply because they worry about "what people would think of them" if they declared themselves unbelievers, whether committedly agnostic/atheistic or just apathetic on the whole question.

(Present company, excluded, of course) :D

[Prospero]

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they believe in God (by eight percentage points), in heaven (by 10 points), in hell (by 15 points), and considerably more likely to believe in the devil (by 17 points). Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say they believe in reincarnation (by 14 percentage points), in astrology (by 14 points), in ghosts (by eight points) and UFOs (by five points).

Damned if we do; damned if we don't. What ever happened to the possibility that there is nothing supernatural going on in the world? And those that do believe that, WHY AREN'T YOU IN OFFICE!? In a choice between fundies and crackpots, I think I'll choose Canada.

[hgc]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
4 out of 5 dentists recommend Trident for their patients who chew gum.

So what? And the 5th dentist was having his balls chewed by a mouse, which is why he was distracted from voting yes. So implies the latest Trident commercial, which puts me off Trident gum forever.

But I digress...

[Brown]

Originally posted by hgc
And the 5th dentist was having his balls chewed by a mouse, which is why he was distracted from voting yes. So implies the latest Trident commercial, which puts me off Trident gum forever.

But I digress... And I admit that I cringed when I learned that the gum preferred by 4 out of 5 dentists means "Three Teeth." But I digress, too.

Thanks to Wayne Cotter.

[hgc]

from the article:And while half attend worship services on a regular basis, a majority thinks religion plays too small a role in people’s lives today.Does this mean that some people think religion plays too small a role in other people's lives, while their own non-church-going selves are in fine fiddle?

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Just thought I ought to throw this one out for discussion:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99945,00.html

According to the last US Census, 15-25% of the population were either atheist, agnostic, non-believers or non-religious. With 15% being in the atheist/agnostic arena, if I remember correctly.

Of course there are going to be a high percentage of believers in the US because saddly that inundates our culture. Shysters such as TV evangelists are treated as credible, and a lot of our programming has the whole god thing infused, sometimes gently, sometimes quite overtly. Skeptics in TV shows are often treated as idiots. The learned are treated as fools. And this is reinforced over and over again. Also, lastly, education is not prized in this country, which I think unfortunately, enforced ignorace keeps people from thinking rationally about woo-woo belief systems.

[Andonyx]

Originally posted by Crossbow
What I found odd was that 74% believe in Hell but 71% believe in Satan.

So I guess there are some people who think that there is a Hell without a Devil.

Many interpretations of Christianity simply regard hell as eternity removed from the presence of God...

This stat kind of sorta makes sense to me.

(I mean other than the part where so many people believe it.)

[Keneke]

Originally posted by Andonyx


Many interpretations of Christianity simply regard hell as eternity removed from the presence of God...

This stat kind of sorta makes sense to me.

(I mean other than the part where so many people believe it.)

Yet both Hell (a lake of fire, anyway) and Satan are mentioned in the Bible. Revisionists, I guess.

[Bentspoon]

Oh, they will always answer yes for to answer no is not allowed

Nevermind that they spend their days without a thought to a god of any type; everyday not a prayer, no church, no acknowledgment (ala Moore), no relationship, no confession, no evidence, no nothing inside their minds or out regarding a god or gods

But then they are asked "do you believe in god?" and the immediate reply without a thought is "Sure". They would never think of saying no.

and then they go on and spend their days without a thought to a god of any type. Everyday not a prayer, no church, no acknowledgment (ala Moore), no relationship, no confession, no evidence, no nothing inside his mind or out regarding a god or gods

I believe that 80% of the 92% don't believe it at all but will not acknowledge that. Until that is explored these numbers mean nothing.

One more thing. Why can't they define what it is. I wish that were part of it. I haven't seen a believer yet didn't back down or get pissed off when you ask for a definitive answer. Why, because they haven't thought of it.

The answer is , "yes, I believe but I don't want to think about it and I don't want knowledge - no don't show me that - I believe so that is all there us to it"

This is what the poll means to me for I am surrounded by such people - my family in particular. Everyone of them would vote yes with a big exclamation point but there isn't one of them who has thought about it or even evaluated what it means.

I just believe - that is all there is to it.

Bentspoon

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by Crossbow
What I found odd was that 74% believe in Hell but 71% believe in Satan.

So I guess there are some people who think that there is a Hell without a Devil.

I have heard some refer to it as "marriage"; though I cannot personally vouch for the truth of such a sentiment.

[Nyarlathotep]

Actually I thought the most interesting statistic (and the most chilling one) was that 69% felt that religion played too small a role in peoples lives. This despite the fact that an overwhelming majority believe in God and only 15% never attend church.

So despite the fact that the country is overwhelmingly religious and half of them go to church regularly, religion needs a bigger role in peoples lives? How much bigger can it get without using some means of coercion on the 15% of us that do not attend church or the 8% of us that don't believe in any sort of diety?

Yet the Christians still love to go around claiming to be a persecuted minority in a mostly secular country. Pathetic..........

[Yahzi]

Originally posted by Bentspoon
[B.The answer is , "yes, I believe but I don't want to think about it and I don't want knowledge - no don't show me that - I believe so that is all there us to it".[/B]
That is correct. They know that if they think about it, they'll have to stop believing in it. And they want to believe.

[whitefork]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep So despite the fact that the country is overwhelmingly religious and half of them go to church regularly, religion needs a bigger role in peoples lives? How much bigger can it get without using some means of coercion on the 15% of us that do not attend church or the 8% of us that don't believe in any sort of diety? I don't think you're getting the point - religion plays too small a role in your life - they're doing about OK.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep
Actually I thought the most interesting statistic (and the most chilling one) was that 69% felt that religion played too small a role in peoples lives. This despite the fact that an overwhelming majority believe in God and only 15% never attend church.

So despite the fact that the country is overwhelmingly religious and half of them go to church regularly, religion needs a bigger role in peoples lives? How much bigger can it get without using some means of coercion on the 15% of us that do not attend church or the 8% of us that don't believe in any sort of diety?

Yet the Christians still love to go around claiming to be a persecuted minority in a mostly secular country. Pathetic..........

Sheesh.. Who do we thank, that the religious voting block has not descended upon the polling places and voted their beliefs..


Thank you TACO, thank you, with extra sauce...( Fire )

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Kullervo
I don't think you're getting the point - religion plays too small a role in your life - they're doing about OK.

Yeah, that's what I am afraid of

[EdipisReks]

Originally posted by Nyarlathotep


Yeah, that's what I am afraid of


buy some guns and don't worry about it.

[Huzington]

Originally posted by ehbowen
Just thought I ought to throw this one out for discussion:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99945,00.html

Proof that 92% per cent of Amerikkkans are ignorant.

[Andonyx]

Originally posted by Keneke


Yet both Hell (a lake of fire, anyway) and Satan are mentioned in the Bible. Revisionists, I guess.

Yes, but I don't think the bible ever specifically declares satan's position in hell. I think the people who believe in hell as the absence of God are referring to the fact that Lucifer was cast down into a pit forever removed from the sight of God, and as such, Satan might just be a schlub stuck there like the rest of us, instead of getting to rule over others and poke us with pitchforks etc....

I think the idea that Satan has some sort of lordship in hell comes form Dante's Inferno in which Satan was trapped in a lakebed of ice forever using his three mouths to chew on the ultimate betrayers like Judas, Brutus, and some other dude.

I dunno, any Christians, or theological scholars know about this?

[St_Hereticus]

Originally posted by Kullervo
They should really ask "do you believe that Mrs. Heaney down on Pine St can turn you into a toad?".

If they get enough positive responses, we can go hang her.

Hangin's' too good fer 'er! Only the FIRE OF GAWD can cleanse the evil from amongst us! :roll:

[Iamme]

If the 92% thing is true...then there should be a referendum where the people decide...NOT 8 justices, with one obstaining, to determine if they want God to remain in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Max560]

I belive that the universe was hatched from an egg laid by a giant Aether Trout named Eunice. Once I get 92% to see the light, will this prove the truth in my beliefs?

Does it have to be 92% of Americans, or can it be Hungarians, or some other nationality? If so, do I still need 92%? How large does my polling sample need to be?

Just wondering how best to serve Eunice.

[Skeptical Greg]

Has ehbowen left town?

Seems like he kind of took this dump, and left with all the T.P.. :confused:

[DangerousBeliefs]

I wanted to add there are a wealth of religious statistics out there.

They show that while the belief in God is fairly fixed in the United States... Christianity and Church-going are on the decline.

By the way, it's interesting to note:

Poll data on religious behavior and practice are notoriously unreliable. Individuals often describe their own behavior inaccurately; they answer questions according to what they think they should be doing.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_poll7.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac.htm

[Iamme]

Call it "the crispy critter syndrome'. People surveyed claim they believe in God, because they are afraid that by saying that they don't, they might become barbequed past well done...IF the Bible story remotely happens to be true. They don't have anything to gain by saying they DON'T believe in God; but they MAY have something to gain if they say they believe in one.

Also, by asking a vague question like, "Do you believe in God?", could possibly include believing in some force energy that one could call God.

As a poster stated above, the most interesting statistic is how attendance of church is on the decline. To say you believe in God is easy. It even says in the Bible that even the Devil and his angels believe in God.

[evildave]

Get on the record as being an unbeliever, and next thing you know, you're UN- a lot of things.

Un-Christian
Un-American
Un-Etc.

You never know what the door to door froot-loop is up to when they come to ask that question. Put you on a list of people to have the Jehova's Witlesses come to visit more often at best. At worst, they stick you on a "Watch" list, and given the government's new and vastly increased powers and the born-again fundies who are wielding them, perhaps your home will be ransacked. After all, if you're not an Islamic fundy or a Christian fundy, heck, you don't even believe in any of their gods, who knows what you might be capable of?

There's no end to the horrors religious people will put you through once they believe they're acting in your 'eternal' best interests.

[TruthSeeker]

Originally posted by hgc
And the 5th dentist was having his balls chewed by a mouse, which is why he was distracted from voting yes. So implies the latest Trident commercial, which puts me off Trident gum forever.

But I digress...


no, no...


The fifth dentist recommends sucking pure maple syrup right out of the bottle. Guess who has the busiest practice? :roll:


Stolen from a stand up comic I heard once.

[Max560]

Originally posted by evildave
Get on the record as being an unbeliever, and next thing you know, you're UN- a lot of things.

Un-Christian
Un-American
Un-Etc.

You never know what the door to door froot-loop is up to when they come to ask that question. Put you on a list of people to have the Jehova's Witlesses come to visit more often at best. At worst, they stick you on a "Watch" list, and given the government's new and vastly increased powers and the born-again fundies who are wielding them, perhaps your home will be ransacked. After all, if you're not an Islamic fundy or a Christian fundy, heck, you don't even believe in any of their gods, who knows what you might be capable of?

There's no end to the horrors religious people will put you through once they believe they're acting in your 'eternal' best interests.

BTW, what is the fundie equivalent for Taliban?

[evildave]

Well, we have the Southern Baptists, who have their regular conventions where they announce another new "what god meant for women" announcement every year or so. You know, like this one: http://marriage.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.utm.edu/martinarea/fbc/bfm/18.html
http://marriage.about.com/library/weekly/aa061798.htm

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

And we get a regular drumbeat from some Christians for more JESUS in government. The Taliban is all about putting GOD in charge.


Why stop at the Taliban?

The Ten Commandments buggers are quite a lot like the LRA in their words. Put the TEN COMMANDMENTS into government, too! To their credit, at least the American version hasn't started kidnapping children and turning them into little soldiers and rape-puppets.

[Iamme]

"Jehova's Witlesses"-evildave :D

[Evil_Jesus]

Originally posted by Dangerous beliefs:

They show that while the belief in God is fairly fixed in the United States... Christianity and Church-going are on the decline.
Reminds me of my family. They say they believe in god but never go to church or do anything. Actually I think I like that kind of christian the best. I really don't know why they even bother...oh yeah, I guess it's the whole fear of the lawrd thing;)

[egatley]

Originally posted by Chanileslie


According to the last US Census, 15-25% of the population were either atheist, agnostic, non-believers or non-religious. With 15% being in the atheist/agnostic arena, if I remember correctly.



Gotta like those numbers better. It reflects my experience, where a number of friends of mine are certainly not religious or church goers, and have rejected dogma-type things, but then again they still for some reason believe that there's "something" out there. Some sort or "gaseous" God or something.

Pull my finger :)

[mummymonkey]

Originally posted by Max560
I belive that the universe was hatched from an egg laid by a giant Aether Trout named Eunice. Once I get 92% to see the light, will this prove the truth in my beliefs?

Just wondering how best to serve Eunice.

This would be nice (http://www.morganmilltrout.com/trout-recipies.htm)

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Evil_Jesus

oh yeah, I guess it's the whole fear of the lawrd thing;)

Isn't that why McD's switched over to vegetable oil, for their fries?