National News More Than 90 Percent of Americans Believe in God

[Tee]

I thought this was an interesting article....

More than 90 percent of Americans -- including one in five people who say they are atheists -- believe in God or a universal power, and more than half pray at least once a day, according to results of a poll released today that takes an in-depth look at Americans' religious beliefs.

The poll, by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, also found that nearly three-fourths of Americans believe in heaven as a place where people who have led good lives will be eternally rewarded. And almost 60 percent believe in hell, where people who have led bad lives and die without repenting are eternally punished, the poll found. Majorities also believe that angels and demons are at work in the world and that miracles occur today as they did in ancient times.

"These are common beliefs among the American public," said Gregory A. Smith, a research fellow at the Pew Forum, a D.C. think tank. This is the organization's second report that is based on one of the largest polls of Americans' religious beliefs ever conducted, with more than 36,000 adults interviewed.

The first report released in February took a broad look at the American religious landscape, while this report dives deeply into the faith and politics of religious, and non-religious, Americans.

On the political side, for example, it found, among Jews who pray daily, 36 percent are politically conservative -- more than twice as many as those who pray less often. Among evangelical Christians, 56 percent who pray daily are politically conservative, compared to 40 percent of all other evangelical Christians.

On the whole, though, that difference holds true more for Christian faiths than non-Christian faiths, the poll found. "Members of non-Christian faiths," the report says, "tend to be much more moderate or liberal."

Two-thirds of Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are Democrats or lean Democratic, compared with 22 percent of Mormons. Also, 77 percent of historically black churches are Democrats or lean Democratic, while only one-third of evangelical churches are Democrats or lean Democratic.

It also found some agreement among the most faithful and the least faithful. While it confirms that those who attend church and pray frequently are most likely to oppose legalized abortion and believe that homosexuality should be discouraged, it finds less of a divide on other issues.

More than 60 percent of Americans across the religious and secular spectrum want the government to do more to help the needy and support stronger environmental laws, for example. And majorities in most religions believe the United States should concentrate more on problems at home and pay less attention to problems overseas, according to the report. On these issues, "we can see a kind of consensus that exists across a great variety of religious groups," said Smith.

The study confirmed what is already known about the United States -- that it is a deeply religious nation. But it fleshes out that stereotype with myriad details that add depth and complexity, and some surprises, to the picture.

For example, along with 21 percent of the people who describe themselves as atheists but express a belief in God or a universal spirit, more than half of those who say they are agnostic express a similar conviction.

But most Americans -- even many of the most religiously conservative -- have a non-exclusive attitude toward other faiths. Seventy percent of those affiliated with a religion believe that many religions, not just their own, can lead to eternal salvation. Just about one-quarter believe there is only one true way to interpret their own religion's teachings.

"Even though Americans tend to take religion quite seriously and are a highly religious people, there is a certain degree of openness and a lack dogmatism in their approach to faith and the teachings of their faith," said Smith.

Article

[Wildcat12]

I am a Catholic, but I don't believe that Catholicism is the only route to salvation. I believe that if you believe in God & Jesus Christ as our Savior you will be saved. I can't say that I follow the church as it is right now. My beliefs & the church's beliefs just don't jive.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Wildcat12

I am a Catholic, but I don't believe that Catholicism is the only route to salvation. I believe that if you believe in God & Jesus Christ as our Savior you will be saved. I can't say that I follow the church as it is right now. My beliefs & the church's beliefs just don't jive.

So is it right of you to follow your own beliefs and just choose what to follow and what is inconvienent to you?

[JayhawkMom]

Originally Posted by Wildcat12

I am a Catholic, but I don't believe that Catholicism is the only route to salvation. I believe that if you believe in God & Jesus Christ as our Savior you will be saved. I can't say that I follow the church as it is right now. My beliefs & the church's beliefs just don't jive.

They tell me that's being a "hypocrite"........like I said, you, me and millions of others feel the same way.

I don't swallow everything the "church" shoves down my throat. I think the church is run by a bunch of humans who may, or may not always interpret God's love and grace faithfully.......there are agendas, and I for one, don't subscribe.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by JayhawkMom

They tell me that's being a "hypocrite"........like I said, you, me and millions of others feel the same way.

I don't swallow everything the "church" shoves down my throat. I think the church is run by a bunch of humans who may, or may not always interpret God's love and grace faithfully.......there are agendas, and I for one, don't subscribe.

I would agree.....but do you think all churches "shove religion down people's throats"? It's only be "shoved down your throat" if you are not a good little troop and open up and swallow it all.

What I often wonder is how someone can call themselves say a "catholic" but then only choose what parts of the doctorine fits into their life. Some of the things they don't follow is basically because they either disagree or it's inconvienent to them. I thought being a "good christian" meant sacrifice.

[JayhawkMom]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

I would agree.....but do you think all churches "shove religion down people's throats"? It's only be "shoved down your throat" if you are not a good little troop and open up and swallow it all.

What I often wonder is how someone can call themselves say a "catholic" but then only choose what parts of the doctorine fits into their life. Some of the things they don't follow is basically because they either disagree or it's inconvienent to them. I thought being a "good christian" meant sacrifice.

That's what's great about America man.....you believe your thing, I'll believe mine. Hopefully, we'll both get to the same place in the end......

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by JayhawkMom

That's what's great about America man.....you believe your thing, I'll believe mine. Hopefully, we'll both get to the same place in the end......

If one calls themselve a catholic or a baptist or a whatever....but chooses only what's easy for them to follow and shuns other parts of their doctorine...the inconvienent parts if you will......the parts that take some sacrifice (which is what being a servant of God is about) do you think God would look poorly upon that person? If someone is a "half assed" christian it's like being able to have your cake and eat it too...definitely not christian like...would you agree?

[JayhawkMom]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

If one calls themselve a catholic or a baptist or a whatever....but chooses only what's easy for them to follow and shuns other parts of their doctorine...the inconvienent parts if you will......the parts that take some sacrifice (which is what being a servant of God is about) do you think God would look poorly upon that person? If someone is a "half assed" christian it's like being able to have your cake and eat it too...definitely not christian like...would you agree?

According to the Bible, all you need is faith. If that's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.

[Tee]

Originally Posted by JayhawkMom

They tell me that's being a "hypocrite"........like I said, you, me and millions of others feel the same way.

I don't swallow everything the "church" shoves down my throat. I think the church is run by a bunch of humans who may, or may not always interpret God's love and grace faithfully.......there are agendas, and I for one, don't subscribe.

I agree with you both 100%. Catholicism teaches that only catholics can be saved.

“Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic faith. For unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire he will undoubtedly be lost forever. This is what the Catholic faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity."

I do not agree with this. I believe with the doctrine that salvation cannot be obtained through deeds, but through a relationship with God, the pursuit of goodness, and the realization that we need him to "save" us through the forgiveness of sin.

Like Wildcat, I don't follow the Catholic Church like "I should", according to my grandmother.

Like Jayhawk, I believe that God's message is often manipulated by man, for many different reasons. Sometimes those reasons are to justify strict adherence to a certain faith.

There is a lot of hypocrisy. Humans are hypocrites. We all are to a certain extent- I know I am. Why would the church, run by man, be any different?

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Tee

I agree with you both 100%. Catholicism teaches that only catholics can be saved.

“Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic faith. For unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire he will undoubtedly be lost forever. This is what the Catholic faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity."

I do not agree with this. I believe with the doctrine that salvation cannot be obtained through deeds, but through a relationship with God, the pursuit of goodness, and the realization that we need him to "save" us through the forgiveness of sin.

Like Wildcat, I don't follow the Catholic Church like "I should", according to my grandmother.

Like Jayhawk, I believe that God's message is often manipulated by man, for many different reasons. Sometimes those reasons are to justify strict adherence to a certain faith.

There is a lot of hypocrisy. Humans are hypocrites. We all are to a certain extent- I know I am. Why would the church, run by man, be any different?

I believe in the pursuit of goodness also. But what is "goodness"? If I have a beer am I not being "good"? What about if I gamble at a casino? Is that good or bad? Do you think God judges these actions?

I definitely agree that "gods message" is manipulated by man....for either power/control or money or often both.

Humans are hypocrites through and through..I would agree. We are all hypocritical in one way or another.

I would ask though why would one "belong" to a church when they disagree with the doctorine?