Many Americans Not 'Absolutely Certain' Of God

[Kadie]

Many Americans Not 'Absolutely Certain' Of God
Poll Shows 42 Percent Aren't Convinced There Is A God

POSTED: 8:45 am PST November 1, 2006


Americans are often thought of as people who believe in God.

But results of a new Harris Poll show that may be changing.

The poll found that 42 percent of all U.S. adults said they are not "absolutely certain" there is a God, including 15 percent who are "somewhat certain," 11 percent who think there is probably no God and 16 percent who are not sure.

Not everyone who described themselves as Christian or Jewish said that they believed in God. Only 76 percent of Protestants, 64 percent of Catholics, and 30 percent of Jews said they are "absolutely certain" there is a God. However, most Christians who described themselves as "born-again" (93 percent) said they are absolutely certain there is a God.

More...
http://www.kcra.com/family/10210202/detail.html

[tridim]

1. Then why do we always hear that America is a Christian nation..

and that 90% of Americans believe in a higher being?

I always assumed the 90% number was bullshit.

[bryant69]

8. It depends on how you phrase the question I would guess

Belief and doubt often coexist at any rate. I believe in God, but I sometimes doubt him. I believe that God is loving and that he cares for individuals, but I sometimes doubt that as well. So if you asked me if I believed in God I'd say yes and if you asked me if I ever doubted the exiestence of God I'd answer yes to that too.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Realityhack]

12. Yep.

It depends a lot on how you ask the question. An auful lot of people will say they are not 100% certain god exists. But many of them act on the assumption god does exist and even feel they have an idea of some of the specifics of what god is like.

Also note the diffrence in responces between this (internet) and other (telephone) surveys. In addition to the noted social desireability bias there could also be a sample selection bias.

[Arkana]

2. Excuse me while I laugh so hard my sides split.

30 percent of Jews, though? :wow:

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Being Jewish you are not required to believe in god --

you need only conduct yourself as if there was a god. It is your acts, not your beliefs, upon which you are judged in the book of life.

In christianity, the opposite is true, at least in fundy protestentism -- you are expected to act badly, because you're a sinner from the git-go, but no matter how bad you are you can be redeemed if you believe.

There is no Judeo/Christian belief -- they couldn't be more opposite.

[Megahurtz]

3. With the Shitty Way

things are going in this Country, I can certainly see why people are doubting.

[razors edge]

4. what if you are not absolutely certain there is a god

due to the fact you are absolutely certain there is not? didn't see that number represented.

[jarab]

5. Forty two percent expect to "go" to the "Great Perhaps". n/t

[Tyo]

6. There's hope then

Another five hundred years or so and we might be close to finally shaking off this religion stuff. Wonder how many Dobsons and Robertsons we'll have to fight in the meantime.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. God needs a better spin doctor.

He's gonna be really pissed when he finds out he's down in the polls. Who's the other candidate?

[charlie]

10. Odd

By the article's metric (somewhat certain + no God + not sure), the doubters comprised only 33% in a poll only 2 weeks ago, a 9 point difference:

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=408

That's a big change, considering error margins are usually in the 4-5 point range. Either something's screwy with Harris' methods or God is heading downward with a bullet.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. That was 3 years and 2 weeks ago - October 15, 2003

I find this note from the new survey a bit annoying:

Over the last few years, several different surveys have found that more people admit to potentially embarrassing beliefs or behaviors when answering online surveys (without interviewers) than admit to these behaviors when talking to interviewers in telephone surveys. They are also three times more likely to say that their sexual orientation is gay, lesbian or bi-sexual. Researchers call this unwillingness to give honest answers to some questions in telephone surveys a "social desirability bias."

It is therefore no surprise that in this online survey, more people say they are not absolutely certain there is a God than have given similar replies in other surveys conducted by telephone.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=707

Doubting God is 'potentially embarrassing' over the phone to a stranger? Still, the claimed figures for lying about sexual orientation are even more annoying.

[charlie]

13. 3 years!

Oooops! Thanks for pointing that out.