Posted on 04/07/2014 7:17:33 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
It’s one of the enduring traits of the United States and a source of understandable pride. Americans are, in part, defined by the freedoms they enjoy under the Constitution in general, and in our freedom of religion in particular. And this open environment has led us to be one of the most religiously diverse nations on the planet, right? As Dr. Joyner explores the topic, perhaps not so much. This comes from a new Pew Research study which breaks down the religious affiliation of Americans in one convenient graph.
Looking at this graph, it’s easy to see that we’re considerably more diverse than a theological dictatorship such as Iran. But by the same yardstick, we’re nowhere near as diverse as the religious melting pot of Singapore. America could easily be defined as a country which is essentially Christian with a significant mix of the “unaffiliated” coming in a distant second. The only other religion which even moves the needle is the Jews, and that only rings up 2%.
But, as Joyner notes, this treats all Christians as one religion. Fair enough, but there is a lot of diversity inside that category.
This is a perfectly reasonable methodology, but certainly not the only one. It really depends on what you’re trying to get at with the rankings.
The sense in which America is religiously diverse is the sheer multitude of religions represented here. And the report acknowledges that fact:
While adherents of many world religions live in the United States – the world’s third most populous country – most of those religions each represent less than 2% of the U.S. population. That includes people who identify their religion in surveys as Judaism (1.8%), Buddhism (1.2%), Islam (0.9%), Hinduism (0.6%) and folk or traditional religions (0.2%).
But grouping all Christians into a single category, which again is perfectly reasonable depending on what one is trying to measure, points to the fact that, despite nominal diversity, we’re essentially a Christian nation. We non-believers are more numerous than any non-Christian religion–indeed, all of them put together. Outside of a handful of urban areas, then, Americans will rarely encounter people who aren’t either a Christian, a Jew, or non-religious.
Does a lack of religious diversity equate to a lack of religious tolerance? I would say no, but that answer comes from my own upbringing, I’m sure. As Rick Moran points out, you can always find somebody who disagrees. Even when it comes to an Easter Egg hunt.
Muslim Parents in Dearborn Upset About Flyer for Easter Egg Hunt
The flyers were handed out at public schools and referenced an Easter egg hunt at a nearby Christian church. So, some Muslim parents get an outrage twofer: They can claim bias against Muslims and play the old atheist trick of claiming that passing the flyer out at public schools violates the separation of church and state…
In fact, public schools are part of a larger community and have a duty to serve that community. If that means making flyers announcing a secular church party available to all students, then they are fulfilling their mandate. If public school teachers actually handed out the flyers — something that wasn’t made clear in the article — they would simply be fulfilling their mission to engage the community.
If Christians were going to be doing any proselytizing in the Muslim community, they wouldn’t use pagan symbols and secular-themed parties. But looking under the bed for Christians and pretending to be outraged by innocent gestures of community involvement seems to be the best way to get media exposure.
After all, we wouldn’t want to offend anyone, now would we?
You can please some of the people some of the time, I guess.
...thats why Odungo and his merry band of perverts get so much pleasure destroying this country...
Our culture doesn’t bare it out. We are secular humanists.
Although it is not a statistical documentation, a very interesting examination of this phenomena can be seen in the various man/women on the street interviews conducted by Evangelist Ray Comfort. Many people on camera are asked about their faith, and self-identify as "Christian."
However, it is both sad and alarming to see their complete befuddlement when asked to provided answers to even the most basic of questions regarding Christianity itself. Moreover, their responses to questions on adultery, homosexuality, drug use, profanity, idolatry, covetousness, and blasphemy are usually completely secular and pagan in nature - especially when asked how they live their lives or deal with sin.
I have read several articles and studies that attempt to discern the actual percentage of Americans who, when asked, provide the Biblical answer to the question: "How do you know you are going to heaven?"
The answer is by faith alone in Christ alone. (Romans 3:28; Romans 4: 1-5, Romans 5:1, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
I am not sure what the actual percentage of Americans who are truly Christians is (that is, those who have a real relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted Him for their salvation), but the estimates that seem to have the most validity are between 8 and 10%.
That is still a lot of people (perhaps 30 million). But is is much, much less than the approximately 80% figure that is often bandied about.
Got to remember that “cultural Christians” are baptized Christians who have not made a commitment to the Lord Jesus to be able to have that special relationship with Him.
Article VII - RatificationIf one is to judge by the infamous 2012 vote “to" include God in the platform, there are plenty of Democrat politicians who are not devout Christians. But the framers of the Constitution manifestly could have avoided using the above reference to Jesus Christ, and they did not. If any of them wanted to do that, evidently they knew that it would be impolitic to do so.The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.
78% Christian is proof that we have the religious freedom to choose, and that given freedom and open information most people will choose Truth. I pray that we will continue to protect that freedom and prevent the far left from inaccurately characterizing Christianity in order to discourage followers.
Immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union, the percentage of avowed Communists in Russia was 0. If Christianity were criminalized in the USA, perhaps by decree of the Supreme Court, I expect we’d see—at most—a 10% rate of professed belief.
Most are CINOs, Christians in Name only, deluded about the state of their souls. Otherwise we wouldn’t have elected the Obamanation, twice, nor would we be in the state of depravity we’re in.
Agreed it’s only about 10%. A remnant. The rest are deluded.
If the fear of the Lord is THE BEGINNING of wisdom, then these poor souls are far from the wisdom which cometh from The Lord. I have a first cousin who vacillates between believing 'God will be the ultimate judge of him' and 'if there is a god, I can't even hope to bargain with a god.'
Political correctness is the satanic solution to diligently seeking The Lord. Thus political correctness thwarts one of God's promises, that 'He is a rewarder of those who dillgently seek Him.' I suspect that the last trump will sound when those who are the globalist rulers of this planet try to control our minds directly (as opposed to indirectly with TV and the other inveigling technologies which take one away from thinking on the Lord and His ways, which can spark the beginning of Wisdom)with directed radiation which will control the brain's limits and input directly to the synapses. Research is already nailing down the area of the brain which deals with spiritual thoughts ...
BTW, Ray Comfort gives me a sense of what Paul might have been like in Athens and Rome.
To my calculus cultural Christians are just superstitious folks grasping momentarily at the memories from childhood or early glimpses of the ‘Christian debate’, without a clue what The Grace of God in Christ is all about.
In name only!
What Nation, wanting to known as 'Christian', would have KILLED at least 55,000,000 of it's unborn citizens in the last 40 years.
We ain't even that!
If I find 10....
If I find 10....
I wonder what PERCENTAGE that was of Sodoms entire population?
This covers some, but there are VAST numbers that this description does NOT apply to.
Golly; I wonder why...
Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; for our better ordering, and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, 1620.
Sounds good...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.