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.
Not my job to debate semantics or faith with people.
The poll is being reported as showing that there's some weakening of religious faith in the US because 42% of the people polled answered that they weren't "absolutely certain" about the existence of God. "Very certain", "Quite Certain" or just "certain" don't cut it...only "absolutely certain" will do.
52% of Americans are "ABSOLUTELY certain" about the existence of God?
Really?
No they aren't.
"But I think if the question were 'Do you believe a creator exists?', the results would have been far more favorable."
Sure would have been!
The poll was phrased using extremist language: "ABSOLUTELY certain".
People who are absolutely certain of something don't slip up. Everyone is absolutely certain about gravity. So nobody steps off a high building in the dark in the hopes of catching gravity napping.
Nobody who was ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN about the existence of God would ever commit a sin, for the same reason nobody ever takes money from a cop's wallet when the cop is standing right there looking at it.
Phrase the question in terms of absolutes, and plenty of people of deep faith will answer perfectly honestly that they are not ABSOLUTELY certain.
Absolute certitude is the belief we each have in gravity and kinetics. Nobody EVER takes chances with absolute certitude. Nobody steps off a building or steps in front of a bus hoping to catch physics napping.
Nobody would sin either, if they were as CERTAIN about God as they are about gravity.
I agree. I don't see how anyone can be completely certain.
Nearly half of Americans will wake up in the Lake of Fire.
I've seen an angel.
I'm as certain as certain can be...but not as certain as I am about gravity.
Because I MIGHT be nuts and not have REALLY seen an angel, but fall down still goes boom and hurts like hell no matter how you dice it.
How did you know it was an angel?
If God truly has a plan for all of us, how is it that He observes, but doesn't control what happens?
As was said on South Park a few weeks back, one out of four Americans is stupid.
Baptist Ping,
while 93 percent of Christians who describe themselves as "Born Again" feel certain God exists.
And the other 7% haven't ever been Born Again
Even more to the point.....How can someone be born again and not know?
[ Headline: "Screwtape Says Dems Proven Excellent in Muddying Waters of Right And Wrong!" ]<p.
LoL.... i.e. Screwtape Letters.. -C.S. Lewis
This is stupider than their usual stuff. Just more agenda driven trash.
Erm, no.
Of course, if you do believe in a God, you still have to pick the right one.
Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]
This is one poll we can be sure they did not poll the dead.
Erm, no.
Erm, Yes... your "god" is what ultimate truth you follow ... even if you believe there is no truth..even if your an atheist...even if it's pure science/ logic... that your god... your idol....even if it's yourself...your god is what you put first to follow...Your "Uber Allis"
But is that personal "god" really "God" (the real ultimate universal truth)
Yeah, how would they know they had really been born again?
If there is only one God, who do you pick from?
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.