Posted on 01/13/2015 1:57:02 AM PST by daniel1212
Nearly three-quarters of the public (72%) now thinks religion is losing influence in American life, up 5 percentage points from 2010 to the highest level in Pew Research polling over the past decade...
The share of Americans who say churches and other houses of worship should express their views on social and political issues is up 6 points since the 2010 midterm elections (from 43% to 49%). ..
It finds a slight drop in support for allowing gays and lesbians to marry, with 49% of Americans in favor and 41% opposed a 5-point dip in support from a February Pew Research poll, but about the same level as in 2013...
The new poll also finds that fully half (50%) of the public now considers homosexuality a sin, up from 45% a year ago.
large majorities of black Protestants, Jews and religiously unaffiliated voters continue to identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party. At the other end of the spectrum, white evangelical Protestant voters continue to be staunchly supportive of the GOP. Nearly three-quarters of white evangelicals identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, and a similar share say they would vote for the Republican congressional candidate in their district. ...
Among Republicans and those who lean toward the GOP, half or more say the party is not doing a good job representing their views on government spending, illegal immigration or same-sex marriage, and they are divided about whether the party is doing a good job representing their views on abortion. Democrats get better ratings from their partisans on all of these issues.
Evangelical Republicans who express discontent with the GOP would like to see it move in a more conservative direction on abortion, same-sex marriage and immigration, but non-evangelicals within the GOP are more conflicted over whether the party should move in a more conservative or a more liberal direction on these matters...
A larger share of the general public sees the Republican Party as friendly toward religion (47%) than sees the Democratic Party that way (29%).
A declining share of Americans see the Obama administration as friendly toward religion; 30% now say the Obama administration is friendly toward religion, down 7 points since 2009.
Roughly two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) think gays and lesbians face a lot of discrimination in the U.S. today, and half or more say the same about Hispanics (50%), blacks (54%) and Muslims (59%). Fewer think that Jews (32%), evangelical Christians (31%), atheists (27%) and Catholics (19%) face a lot of discrimination today.
About a third of evangelical Christians (34%), including 42% of white evangelical Protestants, and one-in-five Catholics (18%) say it has become more difficult to be a member of their religious group in recent years...
Among Republicans and those who lean toward the Republican Party, nearly six-in-ten (59%) now say that churches should express their views on social and political issues, up 11 percentage points since 2010...
42% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic say churches should express their political views, while 55% say churches should keep out of politics.
Two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants (66%) now express support for having churches speak out on social and political issues, up from 56% in 2010. Nearly six-in-ten black Protestants (58%) also say churches should express their political views, as do roughly half of Catholics (48%) and white mainline Protestants (49%)...
Most white evangelical Protestants (68%) [and 40% of white Catholics] say there has been too little expression of religious faith and prayer by political leaders...
Most Americans continue to oppose the idea of churches endorsing particular candidates during political elections, with roughly twice as many people saying churches should not do this as saying they should (63% vs. 32%)...
Most people who identify with a religion, ranging from 83% of white evangelicals to 59% of white Catholics, say it is important for members of Congress to have strong religious beliefs...
As in previous surveys, most people who say religion is losing its influence in American life see this as a negative development, with 56% of the public as a whole saying it is a bad thing that religion is losing sway in the U.S. The concern is most pronounced among white evangelical Protestants, 77% of whom say religion is losing influence and that this is a bad thing, but is shared by majorities of white mainline Protestants (66%), black Protestants (65%) and Catholics (61%)...
Roughly half of adults (47%) think the Republican Party is friendly toward religion, with 30% saying the GOP is neutral toward religion and 15% saying it is unfriendly toward religion. Far fewer (29%) see the Democratic Party as friendly toward religion, with 39% describing the Democratic Party as neutral toward religion and 25% describing it as unfriendly toward religion...
The share of Republicans rating the administration as unfriendly toward religion has risen by 22 percentage points since 2009...
Among both white evangelicals and white Catholics, the administrations unfriendly ratings have increased by 19 percentage points since 2009...
Nearly six-in-ten Americans (59%) say they think Muslims face a lot of discrimination in the U.S. today. Far fewer think other religious groups including Jews (32%), evangelical Christians (31%), atheists (27%) and Catholics (19%) face a lot of discrimination..
Among religious groups, fully half of white evangelical Protestants (50%) say evangelical Christians face a lot of discrimination compared with 31% of the public overall saying this. And 33% of Catholics say there is a lot of anti-Catholic discrimination (compared with 19% of Americans overall who say this).
Additionally, eight-in-ten African Americans (82%) say there is a lot of discrimination against blacks, compared with 61% of Hispanics and 47% of whites who say this. Seven-in-ten Hispanics (71%) say there is a lot of anti-Hispanic discrimination (as do 64% of blacks), but just 42% of whites agree.
...nearly three-quarters of Catholics (73%) say the ease or difficulty of being Catholic in American society has not changed much in recent years. By comparison, evangelicals are less sanguine about their position in American society, with one-third (34%) saying it has become more difficult to be an evangelical Christian in the U.S.
Consistent with this, three-in-ten white evangelical Protestants say they think of themselves as a religious minority because of their religious beliefs. One-quarter of black Protestants (26%) say the same. Fewer Catholics (13%) and white mainline Protestants (10%) say they consider themselves religious minorities.
...more Republicans say the GOP is not doing a good job representing their views on government spending, illegal immigration and same-sex marriage than say the Republican Party is doing a good job on these issues. Republicans are divided over whether the party is doing a good job representing their views on abortion (44% say it is doing a good job, 45% say it is not)...
Roughly half of Republicans and those who lean toward the GOP (48%) say the party is not willing enough to cut government spending, while only 8% say it is too willing to make cuts...
Republicans are more divided over the direction they would like to see the GOP take on abortion and same-sex marriage. About a quarter (24%) say the GOP is not doing a good job representing their views on abortion because it is too liberal (in that it is not sufficiently willing to restrict abortion), while 19% say the GOP is too conservative on this issue (because it is too willing to restrict abortion).
On the issue of same-sex marriage, 22% of Republicans say the GOP is too liberal (i.e., too willing to accept same-sex marriage), while 28% say it is too conservative (not willing enough to accept same-sex marriage).
...one-third of white evangelical Protestant Republicans (34%) [and 25% of Catholics] say their party is not willing enough to put restrictions on abortion, while just 7% say the party is too willing to restrict abortion...
Similarly, most evangelical Republicans who are dissatisfied with the GOPs handling of same-sex marriage say the party is too liberal ([37% and 15% of Catholics say the GOP is] too willing to accept same-sex marriage). By contrast, among non-evangelical Republicans who express dissatisfaction with the partys position on same-sex marriage, opinion leans in the opposite direction, with more saying the party is too conservative than saying it is too liberal...
White evangelical Protestants continue to identify predominantly with the Republican Party; 72% identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, up slightly compared with 2010 (when 69% sided with the GOP).
At the other end of the spectrum, black Protestants continue to identify strongly with the Democratic Party, though this share has ticked down slightly from 88% in 2010 to 84% today...
White Catholics identify with or lean toward the Republican Party more than the Democratic Party (53% vs. 39% in 2014). By contrast, Hispanic Catholics [which make 34 percent of all Catholics] are more than twice as likely to favor the Democratic Party than the Republican Party...
Half (49%) [of Americans] say that wedding-related businesses should be required to provide services to same-sex couples just as they would to all other customers, while 47% say that these businesses should be allowed to refuse services to same-sex couples for religious reasons.
More men than women say that businesses should be allowed to refuse services for same-sex weddings for religious reasons (52% vs. 42%), and whites (52%) are more likely than either blacks (36%) or Hispanics (35%) to say the same...
Among religious groups, white evangelical Protestants express the strongest support for allowing businesses to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings (71%). At the other end of the spectrum, majorities of Hispanic Catholics (64%) and the religiously unaffiliated (61%) say businesses should be required to provide wedding services for same-sex couples, as do 59% of black Protestants. White Catholics and white mainline Protestants are more evenly split on this question...
Polling and Analysis September 22, 2014 Public Sees Religions Influence Waning Section 3: Social & Political Issues Homosexuality and Same-Sex Marriage
Public Split on Requiring Wedding-Related Businesses to Provide Services for Same-Sex WeddingsThe public is evenly divided over whether businesses that provide wedding services, like catering or flowers, should be required to provide services to same-sex couples despite religious objections to same-sex marriage. Half (49%) say that wedding-related businesses should be required to provide services to same-sex couples just as they would to all other customers, while 47% say that these businesses should be allowed to refuse services to same-sex couples for religious reasons.
More men than women say that businesses should be allowed to refuse services for same-sex weddings for religious reasons (52% vs. 42%), and whites (52%) are more likely than either blacks (36%) or Hispanics (35%) to say the same. There is also a large generation gap on this issue. Most Americans ages 65 and older (60%) say that wedding-related businesses should be able to decline to provide services for same-sex weddings, while most adults under the age of 30 (62%) take the opposite view, saying that businesses should be required to provide services for same-sex weddings. Those between the ages of 30 and 64 are evenly divided on this question.
Among religious groups, white evangelical Protestants express the strongest support for allowing businesses to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings (71%). At the other end of the spectrum, majorities of Hispanic Catholics (64%) and the religiously unaffiliated (61%) say businesses should be required to provide wedding services for same-sex couples, as do 59% of black Protestants. White Catholics and white mainline Protestants are more evenly split on this question.
Is Homosexual Behavior Sinful?The survey also finds a close link between views of whether homosexual behavior is a sin and requiring businesses to provide services for same-sex weddings. Among those who say homosexual behavior is a sin, six-in-ten say that businesses should not be required to provide services for same-sex weddings. But among those who say homosexual behavior is not a sin, two-thirds say businesses should be required to service same-sex weddings.
The number of people [overall] who view homosexual behavior as sinful has ticked up in the past year, from 45% in 2013 to 50% in the current poll...
The current poll finds 49% of the public expressing support for same-sex marriage and 41% expressing opposition. Three-quarters of white evangelical Protestants [and 38% of white and 29% of Hispanic Catholics] oppose same-sex marriage. By contrast, three-quarters of the religiously unaffiliated support allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. There is also more support than opposition to same-sex marriage among Catholics [50%] and white mainline Protestants [57%]...
Nearly eight-in-ten Republicans and those who lean toward the GOP (78%) say they prefer a smaller government that provides fewer services. Most Democrats express the opposite view, with 62% saying they prefer a bigger government that provides more services.
Among religious groups, majorities of white evangelicals (70%), white Catholics (61%) and white mainline Protestants (56%) prefer a smaller government, while Hispanic Catholics (72%) and black Protestants (65%) prefer a bigger government...
About two-thirds of Democrats and those who lean Democratic (65%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while among Republicans and those who lean toward the GOP, 52% say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases and 44% say abortion should be mostly legal.
Among religious groups, white evangelical Protestants express the strongest opposition to abortion; two-thirds [66% and 42% of white and Hispanic Catholics] say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
By contrast, three-quarters of religious nones (75%) say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do two-thirds of white mainline Protestants (65%). Catholics and black Protestants are more evenly split on this issue...
© Pew Research Center, 2014
from which the above excerpts are from. Complete survey is here
I wonder how often conservative talk show host mention the religious aspect. Left to the no religion and liberal Prots to which the GOP too much caters the GOP would be even more like Democrats.
Good morning! Bless the Lord. More stats for breakfast.
Personally I’m seeing quite the opposite effect. The Alinkskytes are at it again. It’s fictional facts and figures time again...
I’m not sure I agree with the headline. I drive around on Sunday morning and I see the church’s parking lots full of cars.
Good morning. What evidence do you have that such consistent findings which multiple surveys from various agencies conflate with are all fictional, as well as the corresponding demographic voting figures, plus personal testimony of what sections of the country are like, and which corresponds to the religious demographics?
No offense but aree you implying is it is one grand and almighty conspiracy? Or do such surveys testify to the people which are deceived by Alinksky MSM tactics?
Questions
"losing influence in American life" refers to effects on culture and politics. But church attendance sadly is decreasing year by year - the West
“Personally Im seeing quite the opposite effect.”
Our church started a public school sports program quite awhile ago for low-income kids. Then other churches got involved as more schools wanted in on it.
There is a waiting list of public schools now wanting the program in their schools, and the mayor pushing for more. It has morphed into mentoring, tutoring, medical help, and even some folks taking kids into their homes.
It is amazing how just a simple sports program was raising the attendance rates, test scores, etc. All because folks are showing that they care about these kids. Of course one can’t talk about Jesus to them - but that’s okay. They get to SHOW them.
Oh - and in a liberal Seattle suburb!
My own eyes. I have never seen so any people et born again in the numbers they are in my life. I see people everywhere turning to Christ for answers. I am seeing preachers and together land pray together like never before. What a most likely skewed propaganda piece has to say makes no difference to me. As for me and my house we will worship the Lord...
Seems to me they're doing a good job getting butts in seats.
Of course I live in the South. I understand the Northern states might be going the way of Europe and worshipping God less. I could see how an author from that region might come to that conclusion...
The liberal Prots? How about all the liberal so-called "Catholics" that ARE on the left? Knock the "Prots" all you want but the liberal "Catholic" politicians have done more damage to this country than anyone.
Yeah; it 'sees' a lot!
Perhaps my postings Haven't been in vain after all...
Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.
Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.
2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
But there IS hope!!!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...
Barry Lynn ACLU types would likely call that foul ball (Baal).
Yes, they should have been included (it was early in the morning), and be assured i can supply lots on that.
But you started it this time!
> Then you have not lived in the NE.
I haven’t but if religion is not on the wane there then that’s good news and I’m glad to hear that. I ave been hearing that it was on the wane in North in general; the states mentioned were Illinois and Ohio in particular.
That must be it!
You may find this chart and the below (a bit dated) interesting:
•
• State ranking according to survey response as to religion being an important part of peoples daily lives. (highest to lowest): * Mississippi: 85% * Alabama: 82% * South Carolina: 80% * Tennessee: 79% * Louisiana: 78% * Arkansas: 78% * Georgia: 76% * North Carolina: 76% * Oklahoma: 75% * Kentucky: 74% * Texas: 74% * West Virginia: 71% * Kansas: 70% * Utah: 69% * Missouri: 68% * Virginia: 68% * South Dakota: 68% * North Dakota: 68% * Indiana: 68% * Nebraska: 67% * New Mexico: 66% * Pennsylvania: 65% * Florida: 65% * Maryland: 65% * Ohio: 65% * Iowa: 64% * Minnesota: 64% * Illinois: 64% * Michigan: 64% * Delaware: 61% * Wisconsin: 61% * District of Columbia: 61% * Idaho: 61% * Arizona: 61% * New Jersey: 60% * Wyoming: 58% * Colorado: 57% * Hawaii: 57% * California: 57% * Montana: 56% * New York: 56% * Connecticut: 55% * Nevada: 54% * Rhode Island: 53% * Oregon: 53% * Washington: 52% * Alaska: 51% * Massachusetts: 48% * Maine: 48% * New Hampshire: 46% * Vermont: 42%. Overall nationwide mean of 65% http://www.gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx
Regionally, the South still qualifies as the most Bible-minded. The top ranking cities are all Southern cities. This includes the media markets for Knoxville, TN (52% of the population are Bible-minded), Shreveport, LA (52%), Chattanooga, TN (52%), Birmingham, AL (50%), and Jackson, MS (50%). Other markets in the top 10 include Springfield, MO (49%), Charlotte, NC (48%), Lynchburg, VA (48%), Huntsville-Decatur, AL (48%), and Charleston, WV (47%). http://cities.barna.org/americas-most-and-least-bible-minded-cities-2/
The least Bible-oriented markets include a mix of regions, but tend to be from the New England area. Easily the lowest Bible-minded scores came from Providence, RI (9%) and Albany, NY (10%). The most Bible-minded markets are five times more likely to have residents who qualify as Bible-minded than is true in these two Northeastern cities. ^
None of the cities in the bottom 10 break 20%, where even one in five people could be considered Bible-minded. The New England area is home to most of the markets in the bottom 10 Bible-minded cities, including Burlington, VT (16%), Portland, ME (16%), Hartford, CT (16%), Boston, MA (16%), Buffalo, NY (18%) and New York, NY (18%).
The remaining markets in the bottom 10 are primarily in the West and include San Francisco, CA (16%), Phoenix, AZ (17%), and Las Vegas, NV (18%). Cedar Rapids, IA (18%) being something of an outlier. ^
The Eastern United States is the only region of the country where Protestants account for less than half (44.1%) of the population. Catholics are the best represented religious tradition in this region; claiming 35.1% of the population. 5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century September 2006 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf
The West has the highest percentages of religiously unaffiliated people (17.6%) and people in other religious traditions (10.3%) of any U.S. Region. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion^
According to a Barna research report issued October 11, 2010, The 10 most unchurched cities where around four out of ten adults have not been to a religious worship service in the last six months are San Francisco (44%); Portland, Maine (43%); Portland, Ore. (42%); Albany NY (42%); Boston (40%); Sacramento (40%); and Seattle (40%); Spokane (39%);, New York (38%); Phoenix (38%); Tucson (37%). . http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/435-diversity-of-faith-in-various-us-cities
The cities (measured in the Barna research as media markets) with the highest proportion of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%). ^
73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island (the most Catholic state) and San Francisco (the most homosexual large city). ^
64% of Birmingham and 54% of Charlotte said they strongly agreed that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others, versus only 14% of residents of Providence R.I. and 17% of Bostonians agreed. ^
The highest percentages of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport LA (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%)
73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island [the most Catholic state] and San Francisco [the most homosexual large city]. ^
The lowest percentages of self-identified Christians inhabited the following markets: San Francisco (68%), Portland, Oregon (71%), Portland, Maine (72%), Seattle (73%), Sacramento (73%), New York (73%), San Diego (75%), Los Angeles (75%), Boston (76%), Phoenix (78%), Miami (78%), Las Vegas (78%), and Denver (78%). Even in these cities, however, roughly three out of every four residents align with Christianity. ^
The highest percentage of souls who tended toward being atheist or agnostic were in Portland, Maine (19%), Seattle (19%), Portland, Oregon (16%), Sacramento (16%), and Spokane (16%) ^
Commitment to evangelism (agree strongly that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others) saw the greatest percentage of endorsement by residents of Birmingham (64%) and Charlotte (54%), in contrast to residents of Providence (14%) and Boston (17%). ^ More
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