Americans fear religion losing influence, say churches should speak out more (Pew poll)

L.A. Times ^ | 9/22/14 | David Lauter

[Faith Presses On]

ix years into a Democratic administration widely seen as pushing a secular agenda, nearly three-quarters of Americans say religion is losing influence in American life and about half say churches and other religious institutions should express their views on political issues..

The findings, from a new Pew survey, underscore a persistent pattern in American politics: During conservative administrations, the public tends to become more liberal and during liberal ones, more conservative.

In this case, only about three in 10 Americans see the Obama administration as “friendly to religion.” About four in 10 rate the administration as neutral and another three in 10 call it unfriendly.

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Related story: Libertarian mood in GOP wanes as Mideast concern rises

by David Lauter

The percentage seeing the administration as unfriendly to religion has nearly doubled since the start of Obama’s tenure in 2009, with white evangelical Protestants and white Catholics in particular becoming more likely to voice that view.

The shift probably stems in part from the long-running fight between the administration and conservative religious groups over health insurance coverage for contraception as well as a concerted effort by Republican leaders in recent years to portray Obama as waging a war on religious belief.

The share of Americans who believe religion has lost influence, 72%, has risen at a fairly steady rate since 2002, when just over half of Americans felt that way. A majority of those who see religion’s influence fading see that development as a bad thing.

[RoosterRedux]

There is religion (organized religion--hey, Roman Catholics...you fall into this category), and then there is the Truth.

The Truth is not dependent on humans or their popularity votes.

[Kartographer]

http://media.perpetuatech.com/watch?v=NTA5MkEyNEFFQw#la=loaded&h=860&w=1040

Freedom Series

[GraceG]

I blame LBJ and the neutering of churches via 501C3....

[c-b 1]

The churches neutered themselves, there is no law forcing them to be a 501C3 corporation, they did that voluntarily.

Sadly there are churches that are not 501C3 who's pastors are as silent as the others.

[vpintheak]

Doggone right! I’m sick of the squishy messages and feeling I get form churches I was part of and visit.
The Revolution is owed in huge part to the Church and the Clergy.

[metmom]

We don’t need more religion.

We need more Jesus.

[bimboeruption]

AMEN!

[MasterGunner01]

In case average Americans haven't noticed, the mainstream majority churches have been corrupted with the poison called Liberalism or they've gone all touchy-feely “New Wave”. Certain mainstream protestant and some Catholic churches have resisted the poison, but those are under constant attack by liberals posing as Christians. Liberals are liberals FIRST and Christians not so much, if at all.

[Faith Presses On]

I agree. I don’t believe in religion, either. But you know how it is, the Pew pollsters don’t make that distinction, so these polls as they’re conceived of are the best we have.