Catholics, Protestants Practice Faith in Different Ways (Rasmussen surveys Christians in America)

Rasmussen Reports ^ | Dec 29,2008 | Rasmussen Reports

[SeekAndFind]

While Catholics and Protestants both fall under the broad umbrella of Christianity, they practice their faith in different ways.

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of regular churchgoers found that 25% of Evangelical Christians read the Bible on a daily basis along with 20% of other Protestants. Just seven percent (7%) of Catholics do the same. At the other extreme, 44% of Catholics rarely or never read the Bible along with only seven percent (7%) of Evangelical Christians and 13% of other Protestants.

Consider the divergence among the faiths in other areas, too. (All the figures that follow are based upon those who attend church at least twice a month.)

Ninety-one percent (91%) of Evangelical Christians consider themselves to be born again. Sixty-three percent (63%) of other Protestants have been born again along with 25% of Catholics.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Evangelical Christians reflect at least daily on the meaning of Scripture in their lives. Thirty-six percent (36%) of other Protestants and 22% of Catholics do the same.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of Evangelical Christians have had a meaningful discussion about their faith with a non-Christian during the past month. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of other Protestants and 18% of Catholics also have held such a discussion.

Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Evangelical Christians attend a regular Bible Study or participate in some other small-group activity. Forty-seven percent (47%) of other Protestants take part in small groups related to their faith, along with 24% of Catholics.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of Evangelical Christians say their Church does an excellent job helping them understand the Bible. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of other Protestants and 52% of Catholics say the same.

Despite these differences, the overwhelming majority of all Christians believe that the God of the Bible is the one true God. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of churchgoing Evangelical Christians hold that view along with 94% of other Protestants and 92% of Catholics.

Forty-four percent (44%) of American adults attend Christian church services at least twice a month, and 92% of these regular churchgoers believe the God of the Bible is the one true God.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of adults also say life in the United States would be better if more Americans lived as Christians.

[SeekAndFind]

See here for details :

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/christians_at_christmas

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/61_say_life_in_u_s_would_be_better_if_more_lived_as_christians

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/general_lifestyle_toplines/toplines_churchgoers_december_16_2008

[Grunthor]

“Catholics, Protestants Practice Faith in Different Ways”

In other news, night is dark, water is wet, and stupid people will always comission stupid polls. I could have told them this for....1/2 the money.

[SeekAndFind]

In other news, night is dark, water is wet, and stupid people will always comission stupid polls. I could have told them this for....1/2 the money.

The interesting thing about this survey is the statistical difference in terms of how they view the Bible, whether they attend Bible study or not, how often they go to church, etc.

[Leo Carpathian]

Dduuuuuuhhh!!!

[RC2]

I don’t know if I can make sense of this but............People born, raised and educated as Catholics, receive most of their religious education at a very early age. Especially if they have gone to Catholic schools. It is part of their daily lives. I don’t believe, although I’m not sure, Protestants don’t have that type of education at an early age. Catholics also studied Biblical History, not just the Bible and what is required of them as Catholics. Without Biblical History, it is difficult to understand what the Bible is saying.....kinda sorta. As an instance....what is the true meaning of the saying....”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, than it is for a rich man to get to heaven.”?????? Understanding how people talked and understood things in ancient times gives a whole new meaning to the Bible and Religious education.

[netmilsmom]

Oh you have GOT to see this!!!!!

[BlessedBeGod]

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of regular churchgoers found that 25% of Evangelical Christians read the Bible on a daily basis along with 20% of other Protestants. Just seven percent (7%) of Catholics do the same. At the other extreme, 44% of Catholics rarely or never read the Bible along with only seven percent (7%) of Evangelical Christians and 13% of other Protestants.

This is a little misleading, implying that Catholics have little or no contact with The Bible.

If you go to Mass every day, you will hear the entire Bible read in two years -- three years if you go just on Sunday -- along with a homily on those readings.

[Lou Budvis]

“In other news, night is dark,...” Amen. Anyone who ever went to a Catholic mass or a Protestant service could tell you that.

For us Catholics, the Eucharist is what brings us to church. The readings from the Bible are OK, but we’ve heard the same stories over and over and over. I mean really, you are either going to grasp the meaning of love your neighbor as yourself the first few times you hear it, or you are never going to get it. The music can be entertaining on occasion. And the homilies are for reading the bulletin and daydreaming.

[netmilsmom]

>>This is a little misleading, implying that Catholics have little or no contact with The Bible. <<

Oh and that Rosary thingy we do.

[SeekAndFind]

This is a little misleading, implying that Catholics have little or no contact with The Bible.

I think the issue is "reading" the Bible, not -- having or not having contact with it.

[BlessedBeGod]

Huh?

[yldstrk]

duh

[netmilsmom]

>>I think the issue is “reading” the Bible, not — having or not having contact with it.<<

So what do you think we do during the three readings in our Holy Masses?
BBQ?

[netmilsmom]

>>And the homilies are for reading the bulletin and daydreaming.<<

Not in our parish!
Father Norbert would notice a couple people nodding and BOOM! His voice would echo in your ears with fire and brimstone!

Our bulletins are handed out at the end.

[D-fendr]

Not surprising. Protestants pretty much just have the Bible.

Catholics believe they have the sacramental life, the Church, Holy Tradition, etc. in addition to scripture.

I’m a protestant convert to the Catholic Church. The very idea of “church” is quite different.

[lastchance]

Oh a telephone survey. That has got to be 100% accurate, right?

[SeekAndFind]

So what do you think we do during the three readings in our Holy Masses? BBQ?

I believe he refers to the practice of reading the Bible everyday. That is what he means by : "read the Bible on a daily basis."

I think it also ties in with this in the same report :

"reflect at least daily on the meaning of Scripture in their lives."

[D-fendr]

I should add an important point: the Communion of Saints. This too was left behind in the Protestant revolution.

When you remove this along with the Apostolic Church, the Sacraments.. you’re pretty much left with scripture as the sole remaining piece.

I realize most protestants make a virtue of this and are fine with it. My point is if it’s all that’s left, then it’s no surprise in the disproportion noted in your post.

[netmilsmom]

So let me see if I can understand this.
If I have someone proclaiming the Word of God and I am following along in a missal, that is not the same as “reading the Word of God”?

[SeekAndFind]

if I have someone proclaiming the Word of God and I am following along in a missal, that is not the same as “reading the Word of God”?

Unless you go to mass everyday, then you don't do it on a daily basis as the report states.

Look, there is no "good" or "bad" here. If you feel that hearing the word once a week is good enough for you, then bless you. But please, it is not the same as reading the Bible on a daily basis.