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Americans' Belief in God, Miracles and Heaven Declines

 

Belief in Darwin's theory of evolution rises

 

New York, N.Y. - December 16, 2013 - A new Harris Poll finds that while a strong majority (74%) of U.S. adults do believe in God, this belief is in decline when compared to previous years as just over four in five (82%) expressed a belief in God in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Also, while majorities also believe in miracles (72%, down from 79% in 2005), heaven (68%, down from 75%), that Jesus is God or the Son of God (68%, down from 72%), the resurrection of Jesus Christ (65%, down from 70%), the survival of the soul after death (64%, down from 69%), the devil, hell (both at 58%, down from 62%) and the Virgin birth (57%, down from 60%), these are all down from previous Harris Polls.

Belief in Darwin's theory of evolution, however, while well below levels recorded for belief in God, miracles and heaven, is up in comparison to 2005 findings (47%, up from 42%).

 

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,250 adults surveyed online between November 13 and 18, 2013 by Harris Interactive.

The survey also finds that 42% of Americans believe in ghosts, 36% each believe in creationism and UFOs, 29% believe in astrology, 26% believe in witches and 24% believe in reincarnation - that they were once another person.

 

Generational & political divides

Echo Boomers are less likely than their counterparts in all older generations to express belief in God (64% Echo Boomers, 75% Gen Xers, 81% Baby Boomers, 83% Matures), miracles (65%, 74%, 76% and 78%, respectively), that Jesus is God or the Son of God (58%, 67%, 74% and 75%, respectively) and angels (59%, 71%, 73% and 68%, respectively.

 

On the other end of the generational spectrum, Matures are far less likely than any other generation to express belief in ghosts (44% Echo Boomers, 46% Gen Xers, 46% Baby Boomers, 24% Matures), witches (27%, 29%, 28% and 18%, respectively) and reincarnation (27%, 25%, 23% and 13%, respectively).

 

Turning to the political spectrum, Democrats and Independents show similar levels of belief in most of the tested concepts, with Republicans consistently more likely than either group to express belief in those concepts aligned with the Judeo-Christian belief system; Republicans are less likely than either group to express belief in Darwin's theory of evolution (36% Republicans, 52% Democrats, 51% Independents).

 

Absolute certainty that there is a God down vs. 10 years ago

In a separate line of questioning, focused on Americans' degree of certainty that there is or is not a God, two-thirds of Americans (68%) indicate being either absolutely or somewhat certain that there is a God, while 54% specify being absolutely certain; these figures represent drops of 11 and 12 percentage points, respectively, from 2003 testing, where combined certainty was at 79% and absolute certainty was at 66%.

Meanwhile, combined belief that there is no God (16%) and uncertainty as to whether or not there is a God (also 16%) are both up from 2003 findings (when these levels were 9% and 12%, respectively).

 

Outside of specific religious samples, the groups most likely to be absolutely certain there is a God include blacks (70%), Republicans (65%), Matures (62%) and Baby Boomers (60%), Southerners (61%) and Midwesterners (58%), and those with a high school education or less (60%).

 

Gender of God

There continues to be no consensus as to whether God is a man or a woman. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans (39%) think He is male, while only 1% of U.S. adults believe She is female. However, notable minorities believe God is neither male nor female (31%) or both male and female (10%).

Women, perhaps surprisingly, are more likely than men to believe that God is male (43% women, 34% men), while men are more likely to believe that God is neither male nor female (34% men, 28% women).

 

God's control over the Earth

There also a continuing - and increasing - lack of consensus as to how much control, if any, God has over what happens on Earth.

A 37% plurality of Americans (including 52% of Catholics) believes that God observes but does not control what happens on Earth - down considerably from 2003, when half of Americans (50%) expressed this belief. Just under three in ten (29%) Americans, including majorities of those who self-identify as very religious (60%) and/or born-again Christians (56%), believe that God controls what happens on Earth.

 

Religious texts as "Word of God"

Just under half of Americans believe that all or most of the Old Testament (49%) and the New Testament (48%) are the "Word of God," representing declines of six percentage points each from 2008 findings.

 

Prevalence of "Religious" self-identification

(40%, down from 49% in 2007). Nearly one-fourth of Americans (23%) identify themselves as "not at all" religious - a figure that has nearly doubled since 2007, when it wasJust under two in ten Americans (19%) describe themselves are "very" religious, with an additional four in ten (40%) describing themselves as "somewhat" religious at 12%.

 

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NewsRoom/HarrisPolls/tabid/447/ctl/ReadCustom%20Default/mid/1508/ArticleId/1353/Default.aspx

None of this suggest religion will be completly gone in 50 years?

None of this suggest religion will be completly gone in 50 years?

 

I said die a slow death, don't put words in my mouth, it is figure of speech.

 

The FACT is religion is in decline and has been in decline not only in the US but in several other countries around the world.

Religion is going to die a slow death around the world over the next 50 or so years and policies like this just add nails to the coffin.

 

How does this not imply religion wil die in the next 50 years. I wasn't putting words in your mouth I was quoting you. Obviously atheists are on the rise. I won't dispute that. I just can't see religion going away. It's a major factor for many people.

So according to you, first I have no evidence and now when I provide evidence you want to play a game of semantics.

 

And now it is them evil atheists!

 

Becky Sue, get me the shotgun and the Bible, some of them non-believers are getting out of line...

^You specifically said "50 or so years". Not sure how you can possibly say someone's putting words in your mouth.

 

Regardless, you're wrong. Organized religion is not ever going away, no matter how much you or science want it to.

^You specifically said "50 or so years". Not sure how you can possibly say someone's putting words in your mouth.

 

Regardless, you're wrong. Organized religion is not ever going away, no matter how much you or science want it to.

 

Right, I used a figure of speech and said 50 years or so and Lipton (and now you by proxy) said:

 

None of this suggest religion will be completly gone in 50 years?

 

==============================

 

So we went from a figure of speech and 50 years or more to complete death in 50 years.

 

Sometimes I don't know why I try, this isn't about believing or non-believing or what I and/or science want or don't want, this is about change that is happening all around the world. If all of "you" want to live in a box and use all your usual defense mechanisms be my guest because you are just helping expedite the transformation.

Right, I used a figure of speech and said 50 years or so and Lipton (and now you by proxy) said:

 

None of this suggest religion will be completly gone in 50 years?

 

 

 

 

==============================

 

So we went from a figure of speech and 50 years or more to complete death in 50 years.

 

Sometimes I don't know why I try, this isn't about believing or non-believing or what I and/or science want or don't want, this is about change that is happening all around the world. If all of "you" want to live in a box and use all your usual defense mechanisms be my guest because you are just helping expedite the transformation.

 

What defense mechanisms? UKM and myself are far from bible thumpers if you have read our posts on this site. I just don't see any where in the near future where religion doesn't play a role in hundreds millions of peoples lives across the globe.

What defense mechanisms? UKM and myself are far from bible thumpers if you have read our posts on this site. I just don't see any where in the near future where religion doesn't play a role in hundreds millions of peoples lives across the globe.

 

You are so good at this you are scary!

Right, I used a figure of speech and said 50 years or so and Lipton (and now you by proxy) said:

 

None of this suggest religion will be completly gone in 50 years?

 

==============================

 

So we went from a figure of speech and 50 years or more to complete death in 50 years.

 

Sometimes I don't know why I try, this isn't about believing or non-believing or what I and/or science want or don't want, this is about change that is happening all around the world. If all of "you" want to live in a box and use all your usual defense mechanisms be my guest because you are just helping expedite the transformation.

 

:lol2: Pure comedy. So anyone who disagrees with your assessment that religion will go away is living in a box?

 

You realize how many different religions are in the world? Do you really think organized religion will ever go away? How many different religions do you think have come and gone over the span of mankind's existence? If one dies out, others will replace it. It's the way mankind is. The majority has to have something that defies "logic" and science and is based on faith to believe in. That's not ever going to change.

So according to you, first I have no evidence and now when I provide evidence you want to play a game of semantics.

 

And now it is them evil atheists!

 

Becky Sue, get me the shotgun and the Bible, some of them non-believers are getting out of line...

 

Who is the one putting words in people mouths? Where did I say atheists were evil? My best friend who I was best man in his wedding is an atheist. A few of my close friends are in fact. I have no problem with atheists or their beliefs as long as they dont criticize mine.

 

The evidence you provided did not show in any way shape or fashion that in 50 years religion would be a non-factor. It showed a growth in atheists but people of religion are still by far the majority. It also showed a change in some religious peoples beliefs.

 

Again non of this shows religion will be a non-factor in 50 years.

 

I think you are the one being defensive and putting me in a box. I never attacked anyone's belief just questioned one statement you made.

You are so good at this you are scary!

 

You aren't and it's funny. You jumped the gun and tried to minimize my rebuttal by putting me in a box where you see anyone who may believe in God fits in your mind. You couldn't be further from the truth. You threw a bunch of statistics out there that did not draw the conclusion you were looking for. You took data and created your own conclusion and that is flawed science.

 

If your statement read " Non-religious people have grown in recent years and some people have changed their mind on their own religious beliefs" then we wouldn't be having this dicussion. You chose to make an extreme statement of religion dieing a slow death in 50 years and then got called on it. Now you are playing defense by attacking.

Who is the one putting words in people mouths? Where did I say atheists were evil?

 

That is where you were supposed to say Touche'

:lol2: Pure comedy. So anyone who disagrees with your assessment that religion will go away is living in a box?

 

You realize how many different religions are in the world? Do you really think organized religion will ever go away? How many different religions do you think have come and gone over the span of mankind's existence? If one dies out, others will replace it. It's the way mankind is. The majority has to have something that defies "logic" and science and is based on faith to believe in. That's not ever going to change.

 

No, I don't think organized religion will go away anytime soon but it will shrink and shrink and shrink.

No, I don't think organized religion will go away anytime soon but it will shrink and shrink and shrink.

 

We'll agree to disagree there. At some point another religion will come around that will attract a portion of those who aren't sure what they believe, or don't believe in anything. Then the number of non-believers will start to shrink and shrink and shrink, and the number who believe in organized religion will rise and rise and rise.