July 29, 2002
Americans see religion on decline
___By John Hall
___Staff Writer
___The United States is a "Christian" nation in the minds of two-thirds of American adults, but a majority believe religion is on the decline.
___A new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press finds 55 percent of respondents believe religion is losing strength for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
___Despite the apparent waning influence of religion, 48 percent of Americans believe the nation has special protection from God, while 40 percent said it does not. Five percent believe the terrorist attacks signaled that God is no longer protecting the United States as strongly as in the past.
___Just over half the nation (51 percent) agreed there is too little religion in the world, while 28 percent said there is too much religion. Four-fifths said the influence of religion in the world is a "good thing."
___Americans largely view a religious faith positively, with 58 percent claiming the strength of the nation is based on religious faith. Religious leaders are viewed as having high ethical standards by 55 percent of the public, higher than journalists, federal officials and business executives, but lower than the 70 percent who believe military officials have high standards.
___More than 60 percent of those surveyed said children exposed to religion would be more likely to become moral adults. The poll of 2,002 adults showed one-half the public think a belief in God is not necessary to be a moral person, however, and an overwhelming 84 percent believe a person does not have to embrace religious faith to be a good American.
___While often differing politically, black Protestants and white evangelicals agreed on several religious issues. Only about a third of each group believe clergy should endorse political candidates, with at least 60 percent of each group believing clergy should not endorse candidates. Both groups strongly affirmed God's special protection of the United States, the faith base as the strength of the nation and the necessity of a belief in God to be moral.
___Although religious, Americans are not exclusive in their theology, with only 18 percent claiming to have the "one true faith." Three-fourths of those polled, including 48 percent of evangelical Protestants, said many religions can lead to eternal life.
___While many faiths are viewed positively, atheists are viewed unfavorably across the nation, especially in the South, where two-thirds rated them negatively. Americans see those who simply chose not to be religious more positively, however, as 51 percent said they feel favorably toward the non-religious, while 30 percent expressed a negative opinion.
___For more information about the poll, visit www.people-press.org.
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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