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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 1:13:32 AM
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HisFish
Posts: 549
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From: Rocky mountain way
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Norny
the small sample size of this as compared to the 270 million people living in the united states makes this information almost completely useless. It also depends where in america this survey was done. In cities like Los Angeles or New York to name a few the cultural adversity is greater meaning more religions and a wider range of beliefs. To me this survey would need to survey at least 10 million people and include every type of area from small towns to cities to suberbs to begin to have credibility
I dont believe any of the polling firms like Barna or Gallup ever run research where the samples they need ever run into the hundreds of thousands, let alone the tens of millions, in order to be accurate. They are very good at what they do and as a rule arent so sloppy as to take all the fish from one pond.
_____________________________
The theology of the present aims at the deification of man, but the truth of all time
magnifies God . C. H. Spurgeon
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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 1:24:00 AM
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Jeff_from_Kentucky
Posts: 1652
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Norny
the small sample size of this as compared to the 270 million people living in the united states makes this information almost completely useless. It also depends where in america this survey was done. In cities like Los Angeles or New York to name a few the cultural adversity is greater meaning more religions and a wider range of beliefs. To me this survey would need to survey at least 10 million people and include every type of area from small towns to cities to suberbs to begin to have credibility
Actually, polling is a fairly accurate science. The pollsters study the demographics very carefully before taking any poll so that they can get an accurate sampling for whatever study they are doing. Harris, Gallup, and Zogby have been doing this for decades and are usually right.
One of the keys to look at is the magin of error. Any poll where the margin of error is plus or minus 4% or smaller, are usually very accurate. Polls with a margin of error that is greater than plus or minus 4% are nowhere near as accurate. Does anyone know what the margin of error was for this survey?
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"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
Dispatchers tell cops where to go!
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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 5:53:15 PM
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Catholicandloveit
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I couldn't find a margin of error, however the whole report is 268 pages and I didn't take the time to download/read it all. But you can find tons more information here http://religions.pewforum.org/reports if you are interested.
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Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 6:35:07 PM
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thorkraki
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As a European who has family, friends, and business contacts all through the USA for a couple of decades, and as a person who has only recently begun a personal relationship with Christ, I have to say that this survey did not surprise me at all. This is what I have heard from American friends and acquaintances for a long time.
Thor
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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 8:58:00 PM
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HisFish
Posts: 549
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From: Rocky mountain way
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quote:
ORIGINAL: thorkraki
As a European who has family, friends, and business contacts all through the USA for a couple of decades, and as a person who has only recently begun a personal relationship with Christ, I have to say that this survey did not surprise me at all. This is what I have heard from American friends and acquaintances for a long time.
Thor
Welcome to the body of Christ, blessings on you.
_____________________________
The theology of the present aims at the deification of man, but the truth of all time
magnifies God . C. H. Spurgeon
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RE: Religion in America - 6/25/2008 11:43:20 PM
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tracydolls
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The survey said 92% believe in God.
OK.
That leaves 8% that do not.
I wanna research this more.
Those 8% are putting in laws like the gay marriage amendment?
Abortions?
_____________________________
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 12:37:26 AM
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GeorgiaNerd
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At the 95% confidence level, the margin of error is just above .5%. 35,000 is a very large sample size.
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 4:49:13 AM
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scutus
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quote:
OK.
That leaves 8% that do not.
I wanna research this more.
Those 8% are putting in laws like the gay marriage amendment?
Abortions? No. It is not the 8% of atheists who are pushing abortion rights, or gay marriages. It is abortion rights activists and gay marriage activists, some of whom are religious and some of whom are atheists.
< Message edited by scutus -- 6/26/2008 4:55:23 AM >
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Suo enim quisque studio maxime ducitur.
—Cicero, De Finibus, 5.5
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:08:29 AM
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stellaluna
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Believing in God does not equal being against abortion or gay rights.
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Feel free to tell me what you think about this.
"In one century, we went from teaching Greek and Latin in lower schools to teaching remedial English in colleges."
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:19:41 AM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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I read some parts of the article, and what I read tells me that some have no idea what their terminology means. Where in the world have I been? "Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it." What??
A relevant statement:quote:
"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion. Wow, that's probably right!
quote:
Nearly across the board, the majority of religious Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life: mainline Protestants (83 percent), members of historic black Protestant churches (59 percent), Roman Catholics (79 percent), Jews (82 percent) and Muslims (56 percent). What does this intend? What is wrong with this? Am I, as a Messianic, supposed to assume that I have the only way? "Many religions" does not necessarily intend other gods or ways other than through Messiah! That thought is broached below this in the article:
quote:
Some Christians hold strongly to Jesus' words as described in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Others emphasize the wideness of God's grace. And I would be one who believes that NO one comes to the Father except through Messiah.
But I haven't seen the survey yet.
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Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:23:14 AM
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Sophie11
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Covaan_Meshuga
I read some parts of the article, and what I read tells me that some have no idea what their terminology means. Where in the world have I been? "Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it." What??
I caught that too. It doesn't seem to make much sense.
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:25:10 AM
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Sophie11
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
Believing in God does not equal being against abortion or gay rights.
Well it should, unless of course we are loosely using the term "believing" to mean simply thinking there is a "higher power".
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:30:44 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 3797
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Sophie11
quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
Believing in God does not equal being against abortion or gay rights.
Well it should, unless of course we are loosely using the term "believing" to mean simply thinking there is a "higher power".
Of course it should, but it doesn't. A couple of people I can think of off the top of my head would make your toes curl if they told you some of the things they believe...and yet, they claim to believe in God. It's kind of along the same lines as people saying they're atheist and believing in a higher power. Man, I've know tons of people like that! Most "atheists" are just mad at God for something they brought on themselves.
The point is, and the survey does a very good job of showing it, that the vast majority of people have no idea what they believe. They have no idea what the religion they claim teaches. And that's why the US is a ginormous mission field that generally gets overlooked.
_____________________________
Feel free to tell me what you think about this.
"In one century, we went from teaching Greek and Latin in lower schools to teaching remedial English in colleges."
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RE: Religion in America - 6/26/2008 9:48:37 AM
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Sophie11
Posts: 750
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sophie11
quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
Believing in God does not equal being against abortion or gay rights.
Well it should, unless of course we are loosely using the term "believing" to mean simply thinking there is a "higher power".
Of course it should, but it doesn't. A couple of people I can think of off the top of my head would make your toes curl if they told you some of the things they believe...and yet, they claim to believe in God. It's kind of along the same lines as people saying they're atheist and believing in a higher power. Man, I've know tons of people like that! Most "atheists" are just mad at God for something they brought on themselves.
The point is, and the survey does a very good job of showing it, that the vast majority of people have no idea what they believe. They have no idea what the religion they claim teaches. And that's why the US is a ginormous mission field that generally gets overlooked.
Yeah, I have to agree. I know a lot of people who say they are "religious" but have no idea what the Bible even says and never go to church except on holidays.
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RE: Religion in America - 6/27/2008 6:02:28 AM
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mapachito13
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Covaan_Meshuga
I read some parts of the article, and what I read tells me that some have no idea what their terminology means. Where in the world have I been? "Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it." What??
That's the definition of an agnostic? Isn't it?
_____________________________
Three Nails to protect us!
And Justice for all!
Peace Sells....But Who's Buying!
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RE: Religion in America - 6/27/2008 6:57:50 AM
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scutus
Posts: 478
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From: Sydney, Australia
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quote:
"Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it." Just goes to show that atheists are as confused as religious people.
I recommend everyone checks the survey, it's fascinating.
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Suo enim quisque studio maxime ducitur.
—Cicero, De Finibus, 5.5
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RE: Religion in America - 6/27/2008 9:51:23 PM
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tracydolls
Posts: 1736
Joined: 3/30/2008
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quote:
The point is, and the survey does a very good job of showing it, that the vast majority of people have no idea what they believe. They have no idea what the religion they claim teaches. And that's why the US is a ginormous mission field that generally gets overlooked.
But don't you find it hard to ""witness" to those that say they believe?
At this rate 92% are trying to witness to 8%??
_____________________________
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
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RE: Religion in America - 6/27/2008 10:21:46 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2537
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Raleigh, NC
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quote:
I know some Christians who believe that there's more than one way to heaven. And I've actually heard some "Christian" pastors say that
There is a bishop in the ECUSA that believes Islam and Christianity are two paths to the same god. Too many do not believe in the authority of scripture and the basic tennants of the Christian faith.
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RE: Religion in America - 6/28/2008 12:59:34 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2537
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From: Raleigh, NC
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This dicussion is a case where the sections of the Church and Current Events overlap. There are discussions in the Church section about the false doctrines of the WOF movement and the foolishness of the circus that is the "Lakeland Outpouring." The real problem is the failure to catechise converts and to ground them in solid doctine. The historic confessions accomphish task and too few churches are more interested in increasing the numbers on their spreadsheets than producing solid followers of Jesus Christ.
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RE: Religion in America - 6/28/2008 2:03:52 PM
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bob97
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Only 36% of the Christians based religions believe that their religion is the only way to eternal life so in my eyes this leaves the other 64% as not being true believes.
I would be willing to bet that even though those 36% see the God of their religion as being the only way they all do not believe that Jesus Christ is the only way.
It has always been my contention that only 20% of those professing God accept Jesus Christ as their savior. That means that if you line 100 people up only 20 are Christians.
The door to salvation is narrow indeed.
Bob
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The LORD clears the road for me!
The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer!
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RE: Religion in America - 6/28/2008 2:04:47 PM
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solo_soprano22
Posts: 2386
Joined: 4/27/2005
From: I'm a Southern girl
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quote:
ORIGINAL: colliefan
This dicussion is a case where the sections of the Church and Current Events overlap. There are discussions in the Church section about the false doctrines of the WOF movement and the foolishness of the circus that is the "Lakeland Outpouring." The real problem is the failure to catechise converts and to ground them in solid doctine. The historic confessions accomphish task and too few churches are more interested in increasing the numbers on their spreadsheets than producing solid followers of Jesus Christ.
I haven't heard much of this Lakeland Outpouring, but the other day I was listening to the local Christian radio station and a man wrote in and said that although people think it's God's spirit, it's not of God. Then of course people called in the say the man was wrong, etc. I haven't heard of it otherwise so I can't say until I read up on it.
What gets me is that a lot of people are raised, taught, or somewhow honestly think that a real Christian is just a religious person. They don't know anything of being "saved," but rather think that being religious is what Christianity is. With all the stuff that is there to lead you astray that gives the semblance of Christianity, I can see how some people get confused. There are some tv stations ("Christian" ones) that have some questionable "preachers" and "prophets" there, and if I watched some of what they show to get the answer to Christianity/Heaven, I might think I was saved going away when I've just been misguided. There are churches that are the same way.
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