Wednesday, February 25, 2004
How religion defines America
Unlike some other Western countries, the United States remains an overwhelmingly religious society. The BBC programme What the World Thinks of God examines the modern world's relationship with God. Among those taking part is Dr Richard Land who explains how profoundly religion influences American society and politics.
The USA is a very religious society. Evidence abounds demonstrating Americans' deep and abiding religious convictions.
A Gallup Poll released in November 2003 found that six out of ten Americans said that religion was "very important" in their lives.
Protestant (White Evangelical) 30%
Roman Catholics 25%
Protestant (Liberal) 20%
Protestant (African-American) 8%
Jewish 2%
Other 15%
Source: City University of New York (2001)
In contrast, in Canada and the United Kingdom, two societies often perceived as quite similar to the United States, only 28% and 17% respectively described religion as similarly important in their lives.
A survey done in 2001 by the City University of New York Graduate Center found that 85% of Americans identify with some religious faith.
The same study concluded that by most standards the United States was a more professingly religious country than any European nations except Ireland and Poland.
Most Americans believe in the literal truth of Old Testament stories
The religious convictions of Americans tend toward the conservative end of the spectrum.
An ABC news poll, done in February 2004, found that approximately 60% of Americans believe that the Genesis creation account, Noah's ark and a global flood, and Moses' parting of the Red Sea are "literally true."
Belief in the literal veracity of these biblical accounts was highest among the fastest growing segment of American faith, evangelical Protestantism (nearly 90% acceptance).
How does this deep and abiding religious belief impact American society?
According to an ICM poll in January 2004, Americans believe in the supernatural (91%), an afterlife (74%), "belief in a God/higher power makes you a better human being" (82%), God or a higher power judged their actions (76%), and perhaps most tellingly "would die for their God/beliefs" (71%).
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