Evangelicals: Few in Number, Different in Lifestyle
Christian evangelicals are a small proportion of the national population, representing just 7% of the adult mass. However, they are the group whose faith is most clearly evident in their behavioral choices. The survey divided the population into five faith segments (evangelicals, non-evangelical born again Christians, notional Christians, adherents of non-Christian faiths, and atheists/agnostics). Evangelicals emerged as the group most likely to do each of the following:
·discuss spiritual matters with other people
·volunteer at a church or non-profit organization
·discuss political matters with other people
·discuss moral issues and conditions with others
·stop watching a television program because of its values or viewpoints
·go out of their way to encourage or compliment someone Evangelicals were also distinguished by being the segment least likely to engage in the following endeavors:
·contact a political official
·view pornographic media
·read their horoscope
·use tobacco products
There is a strong connection between the faith views and practices of evangelicals and their lifestyle. Evangelicals also emerged as the group most likely to attend church; pray to God; and read the Bible. By definition, they believe in the accuracy of the Bible, contend that they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others, claim that their religious faith is very important in their life, reject the idea that Jesus Christ sinned, describe God as the Creator who still rules the universe today, and believe that Satan is real. That body of beliefs – and the worldview it represents – has produced a distinct way of living in an increasingly postmodern culture – a lifestyle that is increasingly at odds with the accepted norms. Atheists and Agnostics: Practicing What They Believe
The other faith segment that was notably divergent from the national averages is comprised of those who are atheist or agnostic. This group is larger than the evangelicals, but still relatively small in number: 12% of U.S. adults.
Atheists and agnostics were the group most likely to do each of the following:
·recycle used materials
·visit an adult-only website
·view pornographic media
·get legally drunk
·have sexual intercourse with someone to whom they are not married
Adults without a faith preference were the segment least likely to do each of the following behaviors:
·volunteer at a church or non-profit organization
·stop watching a television program because of its values or viewpoints
·fast for religious reasons
·do at least 30 minutes of physical exercise in the past week This segment has grown more quickly than any of the other five faith segments in the U.S. during the past decade.
Similarly, conservative Republicans are only 15% of the national electorate, but 66% strongly favor the amendment. Likewise, conservative born again Christians – most, but not all of whom are Republican – are 18% of the population, and 72% of them strongly support the amendment. A counterpart niche is liberal Democrats, who number just 7% of the adult population, and among whom 64% strongly oppose the amendment.
One third of born again adults (33%) say that abortion is a morally acceptable behavior, compared with 45% of all adults, 4% of evangelicals, and 71% of atheists and agnostics. (2004) Born agains are twice as likely as are non born agains to chose to describe themselves as "pro-life" (65% to 32%, respectively). (2001)
If that's accurate Evangelicals are quite a small segment of the population. Yet if you listen to the leftist media you'd think Evangelicals are this huge mob ready to take over the country by force.