Science

Pew finds most Americans are religious and political

by William Atkins

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

Page 2 of 2

The results of the Pew survey found these general statistics.

Overall

• U.S. citizens that attended church most often and prayed most frequently were more likely to oppose legalized abortion and to believe that homosexuality should be discouraged
• About 60% of U.S. citizens want the governments to do more to help needy persons and to provide stronger environmental laws
• Over 50% believed the United States should concentrate on its own domestic affairs more than international problems
• 70% of church members believe that many types of religious beliefs can lead to eternal salvation

• Most people believe that angels and demons are present here on Earth
• Most people belive that miracles occur on Earth

• About 25% of church members believe that there religion is the only true religion, and only through such beliefs can one have eternal salvation
• 74% indicate heaven exists and it’s where people go to when they die for their eternal reward if they have led good lives
• 59% indicate they believe in hell and that it is the place where people go after they die for eternal punishment if they have led bad lives and die without being sorry for their Earthly actions

California (people in California seemed to be different than the rest of the country)

• People in California are less likely than other Americans to consider religion “very important” and to be “absolutely certain” in their belief in God
• Californians pray less than other Americans
• Californians are less inclined to take the word of God literally.
• Californians are more likely to believe in various way to interpret the Bible

• 59% of Californians believe that homosexuality should be accepted in U.S. society; 50% of rest of country has same belief

And,

• 42% of Americans outside of California feel their personal values are threatened by the entertainment community of California (“Hollywood”), while 56% did not feel threatened

These statistics were compiled from the following articles and the Pew report:

The Washington Post: “More Than 90 Percent of Americans Believe in God, Study Finds”

Reuters: “U.S. Evangelicals not locked in partisan embrace-Pew”

The Los Angeles Times: “92% of Americans believe in God or a universal spirit, Pew survey finds”

USA Today: “Survey: More Americans dropping dogma for spirituality”

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey is found at: "U.S. Religious Landscape Survey"

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