Belief in God
Gallup just came out with a new survey about American’s belief in God. Gallup asked the question “Do you, personally, believe in God”. What do you think the typical response was? What do you think the percentage of those believing in God are? The answer is 92%! That’s alot of people who, despite the way they live, cannot come to terms with a world in which God does not exist.
“Americans’ self-reported belief in God has been relatively constant over the last 6 ½ decades. The percentage of Americans who say “yes” when asked if they believe in God is just a few percentage points lower today than it was in the 1940s, and within six points of the all-time high in the 1950s and 1960s.
However, past Gallup surveys have shown that not all Americans are absolutely certain in their beliefs about God. Given the ability to express doubts about their beliefs, the percentage who stick to a certain belief in God drops into the 70% to 80% range. Additionally, when Americans are given the option of saying they believe in a universal spirit or higher power instead of in “God,” about 12% choose the former. Still, the May 2011 poll reveals that when given only the choice between believing and not believing in God, more than 9 in 10 Americans say they do believe.
Other indicators of religiosity in America have shown more dramatic changes in recent decades, most significantly Americans’ self-identification with a religion. At some points in the 1950s, almost all Americans identified themselves with a particular religion. In recent years, more than 1 in 10 Americanstell survey interviewers they have no formal religious identity.
Those under 30 are significantly less likely than older Americans to say they believe in God. It remains to be seen whether these young Americans will move toward a belief in God as they age, or instead stick with their current beliefs. Regionally, the data confirm the religious potency of the “Bible Belt,” with Southerners 10 points more likely than Easterners to say they believe in God.”
There are quite a few more interesting things in this poll. Read it and let me know your thoughts!
