Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Nearly half of Americans uncertain God exists: poll
AFP ^ | 10/31/06

Posted on 11/01/2006 7:56:52 AM PST by presidio9

Nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists, according to a poll that also found divisions among the public on whether God is male or female or whether God has a human form and has control over events. The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God compared to 34 percent who felt that way when asked the same question three years ago.

Among the various religious groups, 76 percent of Protestants, 64 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Jews said they are "absolutely certain" there is a God while 93 percent of Christians who describe themselves as "Born Again" feel certain God exists.

When questioned on whether God is male or female, 36 percent of respondents said they think God is male, 37 percent said neither male nor female and 10 percent said "both male and female."

Only one percent think of God as a female, according to the poll.

Asked whether God has a human form, 41 percent said they think of God as "a spirit or power than can take on human form but is not inherently human."

As to whether God controls events on Earth, 29 percent believe that to be the case while 44 percent said God "observes but does not control what happens on Earth".

The survey was conducted online between October 4 and 10 among 2,010 US adults.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: christianity; godhaters; godlessliberals; moralabsolutes; religion; religionisobsolete; yetanotherstupidpoll
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last

1 posted on 11/01/2006 7:56:54 AM PST by presidio9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I wonder what the Conservative/Liberal breakdown is?


2 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:04 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

How can someone be among a religious group, and not know if God exists?


3 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:05 AM PST by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Another ridiculous worthless online poll. What is next? I bet if they asked "Do you believe the world is round" a chunk of Americans would answer NO!


4 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:14 AM PST by WBL 1952
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Headline: "Screwtape Says Dems Proven Excellent in Muddying Waters of Right And Wrong!"


5 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:32 AM PST by 50sDad (The GOP dumped Foley, the Dems kept Clinton. See the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

I guess that is equal to the amount of Democrats running around.


6 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:45 AM PST by texan75010 (Future NFL Dad - http://mysite.verizon.net/luker33/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
"The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God..."

A number just about equal to the number of Democrats.

7 posted on 11/01/2006 7:58:52 AM PST by TommyDale (Iran President Ahmadinejad is shorter than Tom Daschle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wideawake; NYer; Coleus; Aquinasfan; wagglebee; najida


ping


8 posted on 11/01/2006 7:59:27 AM PST by presidio9 (Make Mohammed's day: Shoot a nun in the back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

the poll was of adults - but I wonder if younger adult tip towards non-belief....and then change as they grow older .....


9 posted on 11/01/2006 7:59:45 AM PST by rface ("...the most schizoid freeper I've ever seen" - New Bloomfield, Missouri)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

An ON-LINE poll (like this one) said that 95% of respondents to the ON-LINE poll believe that ON-LINE polls are worthless.


10 posted on 11/01/2006 8:00:13 AM PST by WBL 1952
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: presidio9
Nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists

And then God delivers us Kerry's foot-in-mouth disease!

12 posted on 11/01/2006 8:04:21 AM PST by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

Leave's just that much room for the rest of us.

"If you live you life as if there is no God, for your sake, you better be right"


13 posted on 11/01/2006 8:04:24 AM PST by stm (Katherine Harris for US Senate!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stuartcr

"How can someone be among a religious group, and not know if God exists?"

It isn't a question of "knowing". Look at the phrasing of the question: "absolutely certain". Anybody who hasn't had a theophany who tells you he is "ABSOLUTELY certain" God exists is exaggerating. There is a difference between knowledge and faith. Believing in God without absolute certitude is faith. Believing in God with absolute certitude, without being dead, is, well, an exaggeration.
The man who has absolute certitude will not sin.
Ever.
Any more than any man will ever steal directly from his bosses' wallet when he knows that the boss is looking straight at him.
Absolute certitude means that there is not one moment of weakness.


14 posted on 11/01/2006 8:05:01 AM PST by Vicomte13 (The Crown is amused.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

John Kerry just proved that God DOES exist, and that he has a sense of humor.


15 posted on 11/01/2006 8:05:28 AM PST by Disambiguator (If the Democrats were a stock, I would short them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

The poll was conducted of Democrats in DC, thats why.


16 posted on 11/01/2006 8:06:12 AM PST by ICE-FLYER (God bless and keep the United States of America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

The existence of God must be discredited to allow the human secularist to rule every human endeavor, and force even the non-liberals who think for themselves, to worship the government. The rights we have endowed by our creator can't be taken away by humans; hence, the reason the liberals/leftists are constantly attacking God.


17 posted on 11/01/2006 8:06:24 AM PST by Neoliberalnot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
The poll is designed to skew the obvious results.

Did they ask "Do you BELIEVE God exists?"

I would answer yes. Absolutely.

"Am I absolutely certain God exists?" No, but I completely believe He does. Certain knowledge obviates faith. Don't they get it?

The phrase they used -- "feel certain God exists" shows me linguistically that they conducted a faulty survey. Do I "feel" God exists? Please.
18 posted on 11/01/2006 8:08:42 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God

"42 percent of US adults" is a huge misstatement. This should have read "42 percent of US adults POLLED". Why take part in any survey when the organization presents it's findings as if every US Adult was questioned and this is what we found. I am part of what I believe is 74% of all US Adults who refuse to take part in any survey, therefore making all polling and survey information irrelevant. Just in case you want to know, I do believe in God.

19 posted on 11/01/2006 8:09:19 AM PST by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vicomte13

Good post - you type faster than me! LOL

Two minds on the same track.


20 posted on 11/01/2006 8:09:27 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson