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Lutherans are the biggest consumers of alcohol among Protestant Christians, poll finds
Christian Post ^ | 12/03/2018 | Samuel Smith

Posted on 12/03/2018 9:06:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Among Protestant Christians in the United States, Lutherans are most likely to say that they consume alcohol while Pentecostals are least likely, a recently released LifeWay Research poll has found.

The poll, which was conducted in August 2017 but released Tuesday, found that over 75 percent of Lutherans surveyed answered “yes” when asked if they drink alcohol. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Methodist respondents responded with the same answer.

By comparison, just 43 percent of nondenominational Christians, 33 percent of Baptists and 23 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostal Christians said that they consume alcohol.

The survey is based on a sample of 1,010 American churchgoers and has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.

In total, 59 percent of Protestant Americans say they do not drink alcohol, while 41 percent said they do. There is not much statistical change from a 2007 LifeWay survey of Protestant laity that found that 39 percent of Protestant churchgoers said they drink alcohol.

“Churchgoers’ perspectives on alcohol are not changing very fast,” LifeWay Research Executive Director Scott McConnell said in a statement. “The majority believe that biblically they can drink, but they choose not to.”

The 2017 poll also found that 23 percent of respondents somewhat or strongly agreed that Scripture “indicates that people should never drink alcohol.” Seventy-two percent of Protestant churchgoers somewhat or strongly disagreed with that statement. In 2007, 29 percent of respondents agreed with that statement.

Fifty-five percent of respondents in 2017 said that Scripture “indicates all beverages, including alcohol, can be consumed without sin.” In 2007, 60 percent said the same.

Fifty-four percent of respondents agreed that drinking reasonable amounts is an “act of biblical liberty,” while 30 percent disagreed and 16 percent were unsure. Sixty-eight percent of Lutherans, 66 percent of nondenominational, 49 percent of Baptists and 44 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostals agreed with that statement.

Sixty percent of respondents in the 2017 survey agreed that “when a Christian partakes of alcohol in a social setting, they could cause other believers to stumble or be confused.” Among those with evangelical beliefs, 74 percent agreed. Less than half (44 percent) of those with nonevangelical beliefs said the same.

“While alcohol consumption continues to be seen as mainstream in the United States, churchgoers’ attitudes about drinking haven’t changed much in the past decade,” McConnell added.

Although most Protestant Christians feel that consuming alcohol is not a sin, 87 percent of respondents said they agree with the statement: “Scripture indicates that people should never get drunk.” Only eight percent disagreed with that statement.

Hispanics (96 percent) were most likely to agree that Scripture indicates that people should never get drunk. Those attending church services at least once per week are more likely (88 percent to 78 percent) than those attending once or twice per month to agree that Scripture warns against getting drunk, according to the 2017 survey. Additionally, those with evangelical beliefs were more likely (94 percent to 78 percent) to agree that Scripture warns against getting drunk.

While 89 percent of Baptists, 95 percent of nondenominational Protestants and 93 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostals agreed that Scripture warns against drunkenness, Lutherans and Methodists were least likely to agree — 76 percent of Lutherans and 69 percent of Methodists agreed with that statement.


TOPICS: Mainline Protestant; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: alcohol; christians; lutherans
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1 posted on 12/03/2018 9:06:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Wonder why they didn’t ask Catholics? (Hint: Ireland)


2 posted on 12/03/2018 9:08:24 AM PST by fhayek
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To: SeekAndFind

Wrong.

It’s the Baptists..................

They just won’t admit it.................


3 posted on 12/03/2018 9:09:00 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: SeekAndFind
While 89 percent of Baptists, 95 percent of nondenominational Protestants and 93 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostals agreed that Scripture warns against drunkenness, Lutherans and Methodists were least likely to agree — 76 percent of Lutherans and 69 percent of Methodists agreed with that statement.

So, we know who the Bible believers are (and aren't.)

4 posted on 12/03/2018 9:09:49 AM PST by fwdude (Forget the Catechism, the RCC's real doctrine is what it allows with impunity.)
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To: fwdude

No, “we” don’t.


5 posted on 12/03/2018 9:12:27 AM PST by bethelgrad
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To: SeekAndFind

‘Drinking alcohol’ is a fairly broad category.

I have a beer every couple of weeks, while others take drinking more seriously.


6 posted on 12/03/2018 9:12:46 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: Red Badger

If you see someone from church while grocery shopping you reflexively re-arrange your grocery items to cover the alcohol...you might be a Baptist. :)


7 posted on 12/03/2018 9:15:19 AM PST by Tell It Right (Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true. 1st Thes 5:21)
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To: Tell It Right

Never take a Baptist fishing.

Why?

He’ll drink all your beer.

Always take TWO Baptists fishing.

Why?

They won’t touch your beer.............................


8 posted on 12/03/2018 9:17:24 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: fhayek
Wonder why they didn’t ask Catholics? (Hint: Ireland)

Because it was a poll of protestants...(Hint: read the headline)

9 posted on 12/03/2018 9:17:33 AM PST by pgkdan (The Silent Majority STILL Stands With TRUMP! WWG1WGA)
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To: Tell It Right

What can a Catholic do that a Baptist cannot?

Say hi to his friends in the liquor store....................


10 posted on 12/03/2018 9:18:23 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: SeekAndFind

Doesn’t surprise me a bit when you consider that the areas with the greatest concentration of Lutherans (upper midwest states of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin) also have an unusually large concentration of breweries and a reputation for drinking as well earned as Irish Catholics.


11 posted on 12/03/2018 9:19:19 AM PST by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys all aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll DRINK to that fact!!!


12 posted on 12/03/2018 9:19:46 AM PST by tubebender
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll bet Gare Uh Son Kee Lor did his part :)


13 posted on 12/03/2018 9:21:12 AM PST by choctaw man (Good ole Andrew Jackson, or You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma...)
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To: bethelgrad

If you say that Scripture doesn’t condemn drunkenness, then no, you do NOT believe Scripture.


14 posted on 12/03/2018 9:22:03 AM PST by fwdude (Forget the Catechism, the RCC's real doctrine is what it allows with impunity.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Don’t take a Presbyterian fishing with you. Take two. If you take two, they won’t drink your beer. If you take only one, he’ll drink it all.


15 posted on 12/03/2018 9:22:12 AM PST by DE50AE
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To: Tell It Right
How does that old joke go?

Baptists do not recognize centralized church authority, the authority of the Pope or other Baptists in the beer aisle.

16 posted on 12/03/2018 9:22:37 AM PST by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys all aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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To: SeekAndFind
I'll drink to that. 😹🍻
17 posted on 12/03/2018 9:24:06 AM PST by rktman ( #My2nd! Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH)
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To: SeekAndFind

From a recent thread:

I’m passing this on because it worked for me.

A doctor on TV said that in order to have inner peace in our lives, we should always finish things that we start.

Since we all could use more calm in our lives, I looked around my house to find things I’d started & hadn’t finished.

I finished a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonnay, a bodle of Baileys, a butle of wum, tha mainder of Valiuminun scriptins, an a box a choclutz. Yu has no idr how fablus I feel rite now.

Sned this to all ur frenz who need inner piss.

An telum u luvum


18 posted on 12/03/2018 9:25:02 AM PST by HangnJudge
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To: fhayek

> Wonder why they didn’t ask Catholics? (Hint: Ireland) <

And wonder why they didn’t ask Muslims? (Hint: “hate crime”)


19 posted on 12/03/2018 9:26:11 AM PST by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: SeekAndFind
"By comparison, just 43 percent of nondenominational Christians, 33 percent of Baptists and 23 percent of Assemblies of God/Pentecostal Christians said that they consume alcohol.

The operative word is "Said."

20 posted on 12/03/2018 9:26:26 AM PST by Blue House Sue
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