NEWSWEEK poll shows that 91 percent of American adults surveyed believe in God

[Dos Equis]

Not surprising.  You angry atheists are a tiny minority (assuming these numbers are accurate).     Interesting poll numbers on the theory of evolution too. 

God’s Numbers
The latest NEWSWEEK poll shows that 91 percent of American adults surveyed believe in God—and nearly half reject the theory of evolution.
 
By Brian Braiker
Newsweek
Updated: 9:04 a.m. HT March 31, 2007
March 30, 2007 - A belief in God and an identification with an organized religion are widespread throughout the country, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. Nine in 10 (91 percent) of American adults say they believe in God and almost as many (87 percent) say they identify with a specific religion. Christians far outnumber members of any other faith in the country, with 82 percent of the poll’s respondents identifying themselves as such. Another 5 percent say they follow a non-Christian faith, such as Judaism or Islam. Nearly half (48 percent) of the public rejects the scientific theory of evolution; one-third (34 percent) of college graduates say they accept the Biblical account of creation as fact. Seventy-three percent of Evangelical Protestants say they believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years; 39 percent of non-Evangelical Protestants and 41 percent of Catholics agree with that view.

Although one in ten (10 percent) of Americans identify themselves as having "no religion," only six percent said they don’t believe in a God at all. Just 3 percent of the public self-identifies as atheist, suggesting that the term may carry some stigma. Still, the poll suggests that the public’s tolerance of this small minority has increased in recent years. Nearly half (47 percent) of the respondents felt the country is more accepting of atheists today that it used to be and slightly more (49 percent) reported personally knowing an atheist. Those numbers are higher among respondents under 30 years old, 62 percent of whom report knowing an atheist (compared to just 43 percent of those 50 and older). Sixty-one percent of the under-30 cohort view society as more accepting of atheists (compared to 40 percent of the Americans 50 and older).

Still, it is unlikely that a political candidate would serve him or herself well by declaring their atheism. Six in ten (62 percent) registered voters say they would not vote for a candidate who is an atheist. Majorities of each major party — 78 percent of Repulicans and 60 percent of Democrats — rule out such an option. Just under half (45 percent) of registered independents would not vote for an atheist. Still more than a third (36 percent) of Americans think the influence of organized religion on American politics has increased in recent years. But the public is still split over whether religion has too much (32 percent) or too little (31 percent) influence on American politics. Democrats tend to fall in the "too much" camp (42 percent of them, as opposed to 29 percent who see too little influence) as Republicans take the opposite view (42 percent too little; 14 percent too much). In the poll, 68 percent of respondents said they believed someone could be moral and an atheist, compared to 26 percent who said it was not possible.

. . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17879317/site/newsweek/

[The Master]

Lot's of dumb fucks in America

[Dos Equis]

Lot's of dumb fucks in America

I guess that's one way to look at it.  On the other hand, even when you factor in education, the numbers are still overwhelming (from a different poll): 

"The 90% of adults who believe in God include 93% of women, 96% of African-Americans and 93% of Republicans but only 86% of men, 85% of those with postgraduate degrees, and 87% of political independents." 

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=359

This has been my experience.  The number of people who don't believe in God appear to be a small minority.  I've met (comparatively) very few atheists. 

[The Master]

I guess that's one way to look at it.  On the other hand, even when you factor in education, the numbers are still overwhelming (from a different poll): 

"The 90% of adults who believe in God include 93% of women, 96% of African-Americans and 93% of Republicans but only 86% of men, 85% of those with postgraduate degrees, and 87% of political independents." 

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=359

This has been my experience.  The number of people who don't believe in God appear to be a small minority.  I've met (comparatively) very few atheists. 

Do this study mean that a belief in god/a higher force includes a strong belief in the Christian doctrine?

Lot's of people believe in a god, but I don't think that all these people have a lot of knowledge about or believe in the in the bible or any other religious doctrine as the holy "message" in a way.

As long as a study only includes checking the belief in a higher force, it can not be seen as a documentation Christianity's "grasp" of the American society IMO.

[ToxicAvenger]

ahem...if ya look at how many people cheat..lie..fuck around on their loved ones..watch porn..have pre marital sex..do drugs


yeah..ya wanna believe 91 % of adults.. 

[Camel Jockey]

Saying "I don't believe in god" is not an option for many people.

This board has a huge percentage of atheists, much higher than the norm. Why? Because people can be themselves.

It varies from demographic to demographic though. Go to Manhattan, or SF(more educated populations) and ask them for an honest answer.

[The Coach]

Lot's of dumb fucks in America

Yes, roughly 9%!

[Necrosis]

Do this study mean that a belief in god/a higher force includes a strong belief in the Christian doctrine?

"do this"

i dont think your in any position to claim elitism my friend.

most people beleive in god because its more logical.

most see purpose, beauty, and rationality in nature.

most find random vaccuum flucctuations hard to swallow.

most cannot see sentience coming from non-sentience.

but imo, most need that beleif to know that everything will be ok.

[Camel Jockey]

most people beleive in god because its more logical.

most see purpose, beauty, and rationality in nature.

most find random vaccuum flucctuations hard to swallow.

It's not more logical. Drawing something out of nothing is not logic. Making foolish assumptions is not logic.

Keep spewing your fallacies here, it doesn't make a difference.

[loco]

Drawing something out of nothing is not logic.

Exactly, that's what atheists believe, that nothing created everything out of nothing.

[Colossus_500]

Exactly, that's what atheists believe, that nothing created everything out of nothing.

from goo to you, compliments of the zoo!  lol   (heard that this morning on the radio)

[loco]

from goo to you, compliments of the zoo!  lol   (heard that this morning on the radio)

Never heard that one before.   

[Necrosis]

Exactly, that's what atheists believe, that nothing created everything out of nothing.

hes too dumb to even form an argument, he has just rendered some forms of atheism obsolete.

they all dont beleive that though loco.

some beleive that the universe is eternal, expansion and contraction etc... to an atheist the idea of eternal is not foreign, its just that, that eternal something is natural not divine.

im not sure what fallacies camel is referring too, seems like i touched a nerve.

[MCWAY]

hes too dumb to even form an argument, he has just rendered some forms of atheism obsolete.

they all dont beleive that though loco.

some beleive that the universe is eternal, expansion and contraction etc... to an atheist the idea of eternal is not foreign, its just that, that eternal something is natural not divine.

im not sure what fallacies camel is referring too, seems like i touched a nerve.

And the difference between believing that the universe is eternal and believing that God is eternal ("from everlasting to everlasting) would be.......?

[Necrosis]

And the difference between believing that the universe is eternal and believing that God is eternal ("from everlasting to everlasting) would be.......?

do i really have to answer that question.

well one would mean that we got here by natural processes

the other

would indicate that there is a supreme consciousnous that may be all loving that intelligently designed the universe.

the difference is


theism and atheism.

[MCWAY]

do i really have to answer that question.

well one would mean that we got here by natural processes

the other

would indicate that there is a supreme consciousnous that may be all loving that intelligently designed the universe.

the difference is


theism and atheism.

Said another way, why is believing that the universe is eternal such a valid concept to non-believers, yet believing that God is eternal is so inconceivable?

My view is that some non-believers don't have a problem with an entity being eternal, as long as it's not a living sentient being (i.e. God), because that would imply some form of accountability and acknowledgement that there is a power greater than man.

[Necrosis]

Said another way, why is believing that the universe is eternal such a valid concept to non-believers, yet believing that God is eternal is so inconceivable?

My view is that some non-believers don't have a problem with an entity being eternal, as long as it's not a living sentient being (i.e. God), because that would imply some form of accountability and acknowledgement that there is a power greater than man.

non-beleivers dont have a problem with god being eternal, they just choose not to beleive it until you provide evidence, or there is a good reason to beleive.

were is god? is he the universe, or outside the universe? how can an eternal being act, if he's timeless? why beleive there is a god? why not wait till science figures it out like every other mystery they have uncovered?

i believe in god, but its plausible to beleive that natural explanations will prevail.

[MCWAY]

non-beleivers dont have a problem with god being eternal, they just choose not to beleive it until you provide evidence, or there is a good reason to beleive.

Yet, you believe the universe is eternal. Who has shown the evidence that such is the case?

were is god? is he the universe, or outside the universe? how can an eternal being act, if he's timeless? why beleive there is a god? why not wait till science figures it out like every other mystery they have uncovered?

i believe in god, but its plausible to beleive that natural explanations will prevail.

Science can't figure out anything. Science is simply the observation of natural phenomena. And the only way we can observe anything is with our sense (sometimes aided with equipment that amplifies those senses).

To uncover something simply means to find something THAT WAS ALREADY THERE. This would imply that something or someone put those things there (or set those physical laws and mechanics in place).

You state that you believe in God. But, it's plausible to believe that natural explanation will "prevail". Prevail over what? At some point, the natural ends and the supernatural begins.

[Necrosis]

Yet, you believe the universe is eternal. Who has shown the evidence that such is the case?

multiverse, string theory, vacuum fluctuations, big bang/big crunch. energy can neither be created or destroyed

e=mc2, energy is matter, self organization. should i go on?

Science can't figure out anything. Science is simply the observation of natural phenomena. And the only way we can observe anything is with our sense (sometimes aided with equipment that amplifies those senses).

To uncover something simply means to find something THAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
.

this is a horrible fallacy and assumption. the universe could be eternal hence always there, thus never put there by anything. your assuming design implies a designer, which has been disproven by self-organization. no matter what they uncover you keep moving the question back further. "there was the big bang" ,"but what caused the big bang, surely that was god" ten years later they discover parellel universes and you have to move god back another step until he is a quantum flucctuation in a vacuum, whats the good of beleiving in that god? your argument rests on the fact that G-d must be the beginning and everything needs a cause which has to be god.

also, why do you beleive that somethign that WAS ALWAYS THERE is god, and simply not energy, or the universe, or laws of nature?

imply that something or someone put those things there (or set those physical laws and mechanics in place).

You state that you believe in God. But, it's plausible to believe that natural explanation will "prevail". Prevail over what? At some point, the natural ends and the supernatural begins.

ive never seen any evidence of "supernatural" and anything that can be observed would be "natural", if it is supernatural then we cannot access it. thus your argument is moot because its mere speculation, better yet utterly complete speculation.

i am only arguing against you because your argument doesnt hold any water and would be reemed by any logical person.

if you were to bet on wether something natural created the natural universe or god, i would go with the odds and look at observable science throughout the ages. the earth was flat, the earth was the center of the universe, blah blah blah... now its what started the big bang if in fact there was one.