Is There A God? Forty-two Percent of Americans "Uncertain"

[DeSwiss]

Apparently after six years of living under George Bush, 42% of Americans are no longer certain there is a god out there somewhere. I can understand their doubts after Bush.

And of the evangelical "born-againers" questioned in this poll, 93% are absolutely certain that there is a god. Which means that there is a 7% WingNut Gap -- so to speak. I guess they're gonna "fake it until they make it."

But this raises an intriguing question: What does one call the evangelicals who are "born-again" who don't believe in god? Born-against? The Un-Born? Still-born? You see what I'm saying?

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/jesus/there-is-a-god-but-hes-criminally-insane-211676.php">WONKETTE: There Is a God, But He's Criminally Insane

A weird new survey proves that most Americans are confused dingbats and that just over half of the nation is Under God, which is going to really screw up Rove’s Christian Base next week, because not even Christians are convinced this whole God thing is for real.

Despite being a “Christian Nation” or whatever, 42% either don’t believe in God or aren’t sure God exists. And now, the hilarious contradictions:

Only 76% of Protestants, 64% of Catholics, and 30% of Jews said they are “absolutely certain” there is a God. However, most Christians who described themselves as “born-again” (93%) said they are absolutely certain there is a God.

This is incredible: 7% of America’s notorious Born-Again Jesus Freaks aren’t sure if their God, er, exists. Are these people part of the 15% of Americans who don’t know who’s president yet still somehow manage to both maintain telephone service and answer when it rings?

The only good news in the Harris Poll is that people under 40 are much less likely to believe in the whole Christian God thing at all. Then again, Americans under 40 probably didn’t understand the question.

http://www.wsmv.com/family/10210202/detail.html">MORE

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[comradebillyboy]

3. amen brother

but, hey, its a great way to make money.

[and-justice-for-all]

11. It is an "industry" "Corperation" isnt it...nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. The mega churches and the televangelists agree.

[StraightDope]

2. I don't know if there is a God...

But I do know that if there is, he hates us all.

[comradebillyboy]

5. the god of abraham

described in the bible is one mean son of a bitch.

[H2O Man]

4. The Oct 30, 2006 TIME

had a good survey of the belief systems of the majority of Americans. It shows that 66% of Americans have no doubts that God exists; 14% believe in a higher power/ cosmic force; 11% believe in God but have some doubts; and 5% do not believe in anything beyond the physical world.

[cool user name]

8. I know this:

(and this is disturbing):

We rank just ahead of Turkey in believing evolution. THAT'S SECOND TO LAST!

[athena]

25. I find that very hard to believe.

There is no way Turkey can be last on that list. It's also unlikely that the fraction of Turks who believe in evolution is lower than the fraction of Americans who believe in evolution. Have you been to Turkey? It's a very secular country, and Turks have much more respect for science than Americans do. There is no movement in Turkey to teach creationism in science class. The majority of Turks may have personal religious beliefs about where we came from; but they would not consider religion as an alternative to science.

The study must have been flawed.

[spoony]

23. That sounds more in tune with other surveys n/t

[papau]

26. Time and this poll agree - 5% to 6% are atheist,- up from 4% in 2003

of course this poll was Harris "interactive online" - and online polls are not trusted by many -

so the atheist growth from 4% in 2003's telephone poll to this polls 6% make not be real, and the atheist component may be unchanged.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. Nobody knows if there's a god

that's why it's called faith.

Religion is a totally seperate thing.

[blue sky at night]

7. we know this is all ha, ha....funny....

but anyone with a bit more perception than average doesn't have any doubts. I am sorry so many are jaded against god because of organized religion. Perhaps some study into spirituality may help, but only if you are interested...but, we all know that takes a bit more than sitting in front of the TV. I would be interested in the same survey on native americans, people from india, tibet, africa or even china.

just in case:
http://www.hayhouseradio.com/?utm_id=art100

[DeSwiss]

9. blue sky at night, I hear ya.....

Personally I've studied religions and philosophies now for over 40 years. Grew up in a church where my father was the minister. And I have no doubts in All That Is.

But everything else -- in particular religion -- are simply anthropomorphic attempts to explain in human terms, that which is otherwise inexplicable.

[blue sky at night]

10. thanks for the nice reply...

I too am a student of many different philosophies, what I find most intriguing is how they all pretty much agree on the same basic tenents. The "All That Is" hits the nail right on the head. We are not separate from anything or anyone. Take care DeSwiss.

[devilgrrl]

12. Considering the people that run the world - I'm inclined to think there isn't.

eom

[Hamlette]

13. there was a huge poll done in 2001 with some interesting results

they do this poll every ten years, in 2001 they added a question: do you live with anyone who does not believe in god. 14% said they did not believe in god but 19% said they lived with someone who did not believe in god.

Seems pretty clear at least 5% of us don't believe but refuse to admit it.

[fhqwhgads]

14. this reminds me of a west wing episode...

...when will asks josh why he's going on and on about a poll that says 68% of people think foreign aid is too high and 59% think it should be cut, and josh says "because 9% think it's too high and shouldn't be cut!"

i do a lot of survey research as part of my job. republican, democrat, young, old, whatever...there are a lot of fucking morons out there.

[BurtWorm]

15. But 90% are certain that they're going to heaven.

:wtf:

I wonder who they think is in charge up there!

[DeSwiss]

16. BurtWorm don't get me started.....

I used to love to pull chains in my "younger" PK days by asking people: "So we're in heaven, now what?"

No one I've ever met knew what to say or what to do with that question. Needless to say I was looked upon askance by many in the church, but being the minister's son, PK's weren't expected to amount to much anyway. For answers, what I got was mostly a collection of snatches of memory of the "things heard while trying not to fall asleep in church." Or stuff from the verses of church songs.

THEM: "We'll be singing and shouting and praising god."
ME: "Okay, so we're singing and shouting god's praises in one of the many mansions there. So that's 24/7 is it? And that's it?? No TV?

THEM: "There's no more dying there."
ME: "Uh-huh, one would expect that in heaven since it always depicted in clouds -- so where would you bury someone who died in heaven anyway? And if you did die in heaven, where do you go? To earth?"

THEM: "There's no more sickness. No disease. No pain."
ME: "Uh-huh. Right. You're dead remember? You're a spirit."

In most cases they'd mostly find some reason they needed to be somewhere else. Away from me. Anyway, being a preacher's kid warped me in a special way. I'm glad I could share this. Maybe one day I'll write a book so FOF and 700 Club can condemn me.


~DeSwiss

[BurtWorm]

17. "So we're in heaven, now what?"

I think we ARE in heaven right now. And "Now what?" is the key question.

My favorite Karl Kraus aphorism: "You don't even live ONCE!" Very difficult to keep that in mind for most people.

[BlueEyedSon]

19. Was that a "Sam Harris" poll?

:rofl:

[Mr_Spock]

20. It was easier when "God" was "Good"

Now it's like a concept - "do you believe in Batman"? :shrug:

[lyonn]

21. Wonkette, she's on a roll lately

Love her way with words and politics.

[jokerman93]

22. God is criminally insane - old gnostic belief

There is no God and He damn well knows it.

[mhatrw]

24. Consider me part of the great agnostic plurality. n/t