92% of Americans Still Believe in God, But Youths, Easterners and Libs Aren’t as Likely To
- Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:28am by
Billy Hallowell
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Americans’ collective belief in a higher power remains strong. Despite living in a world that is filled with some pretty faith-shattering circumstances, 92 percent of the nation still believes in God.
In polling results released by Gallup yesterday, more than nine in 10 Americans answered the question, “Do you believe in God,” affirmatively. This is down just slightly from the proportion that answered in the same way back in the 1940′s (when Gallup began asking respondents about their belief in a higher power).
The results are even more fascinating when examining who is least likely to believe in the existence of a higher power. While belief in God appears relatively high across the majority of subgroups in American society, there are a few cohorts that are less likely to be believers:
Belief in God drops below 90% among younger Americans, liberals, those living in the East, those with postgraduate educations, and political independents. However, belief in God is nearly universal among Republicans and conservatives and, to a slightly lesser degree, in the South.
Here’s a chart from Gallup that shows the results by subgroup:
While some lament the secularization of America, these same individuals may be encouraged by Gallup‘s finding that only 7 percent of the nation doesn’t believe in God’s existence. Earlier this month, we reported on an Oxford study that claims belief in God is ingrained in our human nature.
What do you think? Take our poll and tell us whether or not you believe in God’s existence:
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Comments (358)
BurntHills
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:38amAmerica’s belief in God is up 12% since obama came in destroying everything he looked at? yes there is a God and we will be saved from the fuhrer wannabe obama by believing in God …and helping ourselves.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:35amthat 8% are the anti-American obama democrats who worship obama.
Report Post »RebeccaW_39
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:35am8% of our country need to be reached out to with loving arms. Progressives will answer for their actions when they face the Lord, but we can aid them in they ways. I only hope they can see the light. They need to understand that Jesus is within us all. He can show us the path if we have the willpower to ask Him.
Visit http://www.thewillpower.org and help the sinners be saved. None should fall to a path of darkness. Christ welcomes all.
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:16amWhy do you feel the need to reach out to those of us that don’t want anything to do with your religion?
Report Post »Many of you here have said that you don’t care if someone is gay, but you don’t want it in your face. well, I feel the same way about religion. I’m fine with you being religious, but I don’t want it pushed on me all the time. And understand, just because someone believes in god doesn’t make them religious. In fact only about 43% of those that believe in god go to church, and only 30% go on a regular basis. Seems that many that believe in god don’t want your religion pushed in their face either.
RebeccaW_39
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:36amI would never force my religion on others. The willpower I want to show others is the strength to take care of yourself. It teaches you to reach out and grasp the most important thing in your life. For us, it is Jesus Christ. It may be many other things for different people. That is the nature of the website- finding happiness within yourself.
I hope you, too, can be touched the way we are.
Report Post »Oldphoto678
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:08amREBCCAW I believe that you would not, but many, many do. I have lived with religious oppression for most of my life. The religious right has been pushing their beleifs on the world for centuries. It’s no wonder to me that so many started to push back, and it‘s not just those of us that don’t believe. The backlash has come from millions of beleivers as well.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:33amGod is wonderful, but those who try to ram it down others throats are not and that is why people are turning away from organized religion, All men and women must choose a path and it has nothing to do with churches or Sundays so on. If you need to debate this in any way or go what is he talking about, you just don’t have a clue!
Report Post »Lone Ranger
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:19amI’ve always wished there were a roller coaster cam at the gates of hell, so we could the the expressions on the faces of all those ****-sure atheists.
Report Post »tikihead
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:45amYou sound like a good Christian. Want to buy some fire insurance?
Report Post »ricrhino
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:15amStill hard to understand why the 8% are allowed to tell us we cant pray, have to remove anything having to do with God, Remove the commandments, not pray at commencments…………etc…………….
Report Post »RiverRoad
Posted on June 8, 2011 at 12:01amThe poll said that 92% believed in god – not necessarily your god. What god should we choose to put in schools?
Report Post »Amy
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:15amWhat does an atheist think when the last breath is taken? ‘ Dear God, I hope I was wrong about you and don’t punish me too harshly.’
Report Post »advent2
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:54amAs Sigmund Freud was on his death bed taking his final breath he was in a tirade cursing God. He must have been happy and fullfilled with his life and intellectual prowess.
Report Post »tikihead
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:48amAn atheist thinks when you‘re dead you’re dead. You are in the same state as before you were born. The end. No afterlife. That’s why living for today, in reality is so important and must be embraced and cherished. We only have one life so we must make the most of it.
Report Post »jim
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:59amGod help them. Or not.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:56amI am not out trying to convince people there is a God. I do not understand the 8% trying so hard to convince me He doesn’t exist.. I do know that I am happy in my faith, my life, my family, my country. I believe in a God of love. It seem to me that those who believe in a vengefull God do not seem as fulfilled. When someone rejoices in murder and mayhem, that is a God I want no part of. Those who do not believe should be glad you live in a world where a loving God is worshiped. As for big, beautifull buildings-well why wouldn’t you want to do your very best for the Supeme Being. If you can’t build a cathedral, He is still there when you worship. He is proud of every effort we make to acknowlege his love and care. He makes rules for us as any parent does-for our own good and safety. I know I am safe in His loving care, how gratefull I am He forgives me when I mess up and gives me a chance to change and repent. I would not change my life for anyone’s. I wish all the unbelievers a happy life. Wish you could just do the same and let me and the rest of us believers be.
Report Post »Recovering_Religionist
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:41pmHave you read the old testament? There you will read about a vengeful God.
Report Post »martinrnelson
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:50amKind of makes since that libs don‘t believe in God and I believe it’s a much lower number for libs. Libs don’t like the fact that God is judging them for Moral issues so they must not believe to live in peace. Just my theory.
Report Post »bharris0
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:30amLiberals are without faith as faith implies accountability and we all know that liberals do not EVER believe in being accountable for ANYTHING.
Report Post »Endstatism
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:32amThe liberals who said they believed in God really meant that government was deity. All totalitarians; ie progressives, Nazis, fascists, Communists ad nauseum impart divinity to their system of government. Big government is the god of the trolls like Desert Rose and Forest Nomas
Report Post »susieq31
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:16amThis is not about religion…….about a belief in God. I believe in God, but more so I Believe God. For all of my wrongdoings in my past, HE has forgiven me and my life now is very blessed. Even though the poll says 92% says they believe in God, how many of those 92% are sharing God’s truths, love, wisdom and knowledge. A murderer can believe in God……..heck Satan believes in God!
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:26amgreat point, I would guess it is a very small portion of that 92%
Report Post »Lee_in_PA
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:03amBetter to live your life as though there is a GOD,and find out there isn’t, than to live your life like there isn’t a GOD, and find out there is. Judgement day will be an eye opener for many, I fear.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:16amThat is called Pascal’s Equation. (Google it)
And if you believe in God because your afraid not too, the Religous people have brainwashed you.
Report Post »susieq31
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:22amLee, I have this posted on a sticky note and everytime I read it I think how true. I would rather live my life with God at my side and if I die and to find out there is no God, what have I lost. I only gained a great life here on earth.
Report Post »foobear
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:10am@Aaron: It‘s called Pascal’s Wager, but, hey, close enough for government work.
But Lee is making a pragmatic claim as well. Namely that it is better to live one’s life in this world believing that there is a God than the reverse. Which is certainly true. There’s a lot of pragmatic benefits to being a Christian on top of the whole salvation and afterlife things.
Report Post »Goldwaterite
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 2:01pmSo if I should believe in God just because it’s more pragmatic than not believing, which religion should I believe? There have only been thousands of them all over the world, and they all claim to be the right one. If I have to choose to save myself from eternal torture I guess I’d lean towards Zorastrianism, but you have to admire the Muslim’s spunkiness.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:49pmaaron, I don’t think you are able to “make” yourself believe someting. How do you imagine that works?
Report Post »Archamerican
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:56amonly 73% are cemented in that belief however when given more options on the spectrum. I actually think that the drop was significant in people believing in God from the 60′s.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:08amNear end of life experience perhaps?
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:46amYou’d think, for all the noise they make here on these forums, that atheists would be more than 8% of the US. Guess you guys aren’t as big a deal as you think.
Silversmith
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:57amAtheists don’t build palatial “Houses of Worship” and dress leaders in extravagant robes lined in gold.
It appears the religious people want to be “a big deal”.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:22amCue Troll
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:06amAgain aaron, you are lumping all into one. The church I attend is a simple building and my Pastor wears everyday clothes. The majority of the money given to my church goes into helping others in our community. My family also visits other churches from time to time, one which meets in a local high school (yes a public school) and has no plans to ever buy a building to worship in, they choose to put the money donated to the church into helping those in our community. Do you claim to be just like every other non-believer? Neither am I just like any other believer, and not all Christian churches are just like all the others either.
Report Post »Christian supporting Israel
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:46amI SUPPORT ISRAEL& have changed my Blazer user name until August, in support of Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage rally in Israel
PEOPLE, it’s happening again. This time we cannot say we didn’t know
———————————————————————————–
Why????? White House to Jewish Chorus: Take down pro-obama video )
obama tells President Netanyahu to go back to 1967 borders (since when do we tell our best friends what they do in their own house)
By doing this he is telling the world that he DOES NOT support Israel
Now you have a propaganda CD “Crime against humanity’ anti-Israel song supporting Palestine and being distributed all over the world including churches in the USA. It’s by Coldplay, Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband
His buddy, Bill Ayres & wife are behind the next flotilla
Google (strong supporters of this administration) were instrumental for the revolution in Egypt, giving Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist group
The Arabs surrounding Israel want to storm the borders of Israel to force a reaction
obama snubbed President Netanyahu the last time he was at the White House
Why are we in Libya? Cost $700 million by September. Where is Congress?
PEOPLE, If you support Israel, can we temporarily change our user names to reflect Israel is some small way
GOD BLESS US ALL
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:44amOne day all will believe, hope it won’t be too late for those that choose to be non-believers now.
Report Post »trooper
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:44amIt’s the work of the Anti-Chist, Obama!
Report Post »trooper
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:42amWhat do you expect since the anti Christ is president?
Report Post »Archamerican
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:00amindeed…Its all a massive conspiracy deigned by no other than SATAN himself! *gasp* dun dun DUN
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:42amBelief in God drops below 90% among younger Americans, liberals, those living in the East, those with postgraduate educations, and political independents.
_____________________________________________________________________________
In other words, those brain washed by Marxist, God hating professors are less likely to believe in God. However, I am amazed that [still] around 90% still believe in God. Don’t let this 6% convince our country that God is not who God is! Time to hit the streets, tell friends and show them boldly that you are a follower of Christ.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:52amThose “brainwashed” by professors are called students and they are educated, not brainwashed.
Brainwashing happens at Sunday School and Vaction Bible School.
Report Post »Archamerican
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:02amhmm so the more educated u are:… the more communist you are… I see how this could get ugly…
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:24amI have a post graduate degree, had many debates with my professors, and still finished my BA with a 3.50 and MA with a 3.90. Of course, I was not fresh out of high school when I went to college so I was not so easily mislead and did not just blindly believe everything a professor told me. Nor did I think that if my college text said it, it was true. Rather, when I had a paper to write, I used the text book AND sought out many other sources as well. If anything, my years spent in higher learning helped me grow stronger in my faith. Perhaps we should stop sending kids to college right out of high school, give them 5 or 10 years in the real world first!
Report Post »foobear
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:07am@Aaron: There’s a definition anti-religious bias in liberal arts classes. My professors sort of dismissively snorted at the appalling fact that some people might believe in a “God”. Students wanting to appear intellectual pick up on this and adopt this attitude, without really thinking it through.
As Socrates said, the unexamined life is not worth living. This includes both the stuff you learn in Church *and* the communist pap they feed you in college. Students should think it all through for themselves.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:00amAt Aaron,
First off Sunday school kids CHOOSE to be there. Second, when is teaching about morals, values and loving others a bad thing in Church… which is a private organization, might I add. Public schools FORCE kids to learn about being anti God: Big bang, evolution, etc… so the schools are teaching on a belief. A belief in God is false, on our tax dollars. How is that different than prayer in school?
So let me ask you, is government your god? Why do you trust government making thousands of laws that rob your freedom but curse the 10 laws that give you freedom? Oh, and Christians are fallible just like everyone else. The Christians that you call hypocrites and you despise… you are doing the same thing.
Report Post »tikihead
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 6:43amCessna152, kids go to Sunday school mainly because their parents make them go. We are products of our upbringings. Had you been born in India of Indian parents you would probably be Hindu.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:12amtikihead
Interesting… How come there are Christians in India, Middle East, China and around the world. Because they see the truth and follow it. Kids in Sunday school are there because they want to be (most of them). Also, why is Christianity the only form of “brain washing”. That would mean any sort of belief would be..everyone has an opinion. BTW, Christianity pretty much “sells itself”. Truth has no agenda…
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:40amFrom the Department of We Just Make this Stuff Up: Over 90% believe in God.
Gallup Poll June 4th, 2008 Found 78% of Americans believe in God. http://www.gallup.com/video/109111/majority-americans-believe-god.aspx
You just can’t believe the polls.
Report Post »louise
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:02am78% in 2008
90% in 2011
Looks like some folks got saved
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:14amOr, you can argue that by next year we will be at 100% Just in time for the Mayan Calander ending.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:45amI tend to think it has more to do with Obama being in office.People are seeing that it is possible he is the anti-Christ and we Christians need to stick together to get out of this mess he has gotten us into.People were too complacent until they saw for themselves what it means to have “Evil” in the world. When you have someone in the WH who does not believe in God, And wants to destroy our Country as we know it. It is time for people to stand up and stand together.We cannot fight EVIL without the help of God.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:10amThat poll said 78% believe in God, 15% in a higher power. – Are you trying to decieve the reader?
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:48amOr you can argue people never stopped believing they just stopped speaking out and now have a voice or in my case woke up.
Usually when something is taken away that’s when you realize what you had.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:10amAaron, face it… God wins in the end. Actually, we have never lost, just appears that way to you. So let me guess, some Christian did not invite you over for dinner and now you hate them all. Please explain…
Report Post »WILLIAM E.
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:38amDemocrats think they are Gods !!
Report Post »sambachico
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:54amwell, that might be a bit extreme. I know Christians who are democrats. I see the bigger problem is that most democrats believe in government solving problems w/ more government, instead of relying on God, government has become a God in a sense to many democrats. The same could be said true for those Republicans who support the constant propaganda put out by our government to distrust all Muslims too, and loved homeland security/TSA dept. under Bush. Sounds like the 1930‘s and 1940’s all over again, only this time it will be the muslims here in a concentration camp if another major incident occurs. Very sad, as all this will do is to continue eroding our liberties, like destroying our right to privacy in the name of security, and destroying ourselves financially waging continual war.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:14amamen to that sambachico
Report Post »I see the same, many Christians (especially D-Christians, but many R’s as well, along with some I’s and any other party ever established) have missed the part where God told the Christians to take care of the poor and needy, NOT the government, ANY GOVERNMENT. Many say they want the government to stop with the entitlements, but then say the poor and needy are that way because of their own choices, say NO to abortion, but don’t want to actually help these pregnant women in a way that will last (it takes a little more than a few free diapers and a crib). Stop just saying your a Christian and prove it, not with your words, with your actions. Know the Word, then follow it, not by forcing the words on others, by living what you claim to believe, others will notice.
dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:34amAmen to your words Obamazone “not by forcing the words on others, by living what you claim to believe, others will notice”
People here have every right to ask what happened then to America if so many believe in God? To that my response is “I am a believer, I drove off God’s path one day, fell asleep at the wheel, woke up, saw God sitting in the back seat and took over myself forgetting to invite God back in.” I’m awake now because of 9/11. God suddenly showed me what can be taken away, I have not forgotten and sought God ever since, everyday asking God “How do you want ME to serve you?” Much better now.
God wants me to take back what was given to all of us–America! Land of the free, home of the brave. Believers in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit! End of story. All others that have another version, seek some other country that fits your belief.
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:04amHey SAMBACHICO… you say, “I see the bigger problem is that most democrats believe in government solving problems w/ more government, instead of relying on God”.
I’m curious. Do you rely on God to pay your mortgage or feed your children? It seems an odd thing to say.
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:37amHey NOBAMAZONE… you say, “God told the Christians to take care of the poor and needy, NOT the government, ANY GOVERNMENT.”
Can you please direct me to where in the bible you found this anti-government idea? I mean, the idea that the government should not help people in need? I would like to read it for myself…
Thanks
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:40pmHow fun……a new troll antagonist. Hi TOMMEE,
I recommend you read the entire Bible with an open mind and heart. You will find the answers to what you are seeking. Jesus said the poor will always be among you. You will find the example of the early church set up to care for widows and the poor. You will learn the concept of “teach a man to fish”…..
But, of course, being who you are, you are simply picking out key phrases in posts to be intentionally contrary. Nice try.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:44pmAnd by the way TOMMEE……I do thank God for the many undeserved blessings He has given me in life……but I thank Him even more for the hardships. Trust me, I have had my share and only learned more about God and to trust Him even more. I pray the same occurs for you.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:48pmtomee
Report Post »I am only on a short break from family life and fun, don’t have time to look up passages, but perhaps later I will. In the mean time, just search “poor” and “needy” and read the verses they are in. You will see that the direction is not at the government, it is at the followers. I do not mean that God does not intend us to have a government, just that He did not intend for them to take care of poor and needy. My own opinion on this is that God knows that meaningful help involves commitment and relationship, it is not a quick money fix.In real life, this is what I am blessed to see.
copatriots
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:53pmHow ’bout a few questions for you TOMMEE? Do you think the government is doing a great job taking care of the poor and needy in this country? Why are there so many homeless and more becoming so every day? What do you think of the grown man collecting disability while he runs wears baby clothes and drinks beer out of a bottle…..all the while running a side business showing his capability of working? Do you think there is rampant waste and abuse in most government programs?
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 5:15pmHey COPATRIOTS
A troll? If you think I am a troll because I like to engage in rational objective discussions from which I may learn, then I plead guilty. If you see me as a troll because I may not agree with you, then I feel sorry for the self centered, close minded poor excuse of a human being you appear to be. Surely the folks at the Blaze are open to the free flow of ideas from everyone who takes the time to contribute. It would be nice if you were more agreeable to their standards. Perhaps you are afraid that rational input from different sources may somehow be a threat to your chiseled in dogma.
Against my better judgment, I will take a few minutes of my precious time to answer your questions of me.
“Do you think the government is doing a great job taking care of the poor and needy in this country?”… No.
“Why are there so many homeless and more becoming so every day?”… There are not enough jobs available for those willing and able to work.
“What do you think of the grown man collecting disability while he runs wears baby clothes and drinks beer out of a bottle…..all the while running a side business showing his capability of working?”… I think he is a criminal stealing from society.
“Do you think there is rampant waste and abuse in most government programs?”… I think there is rampant waste and abuse in both government programs and private industry.
You have my answeret COPARIOTS. What’s next?
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:17pmHey NOBAMAZONE… Thank you for answering my post.
I have read the bible, old and new, and even studied it a bit while at the University. I honestly do not remember any part of the bible that says a government should not help those in need. I suspect you are making a conclusion on what you think the bible should say – based on your political convictions – rather than what it actually does say.
There are countless references in the bible where Jesus gives preference to the poor over the rich. There is no question that a main Christian principle is to help one’s neighbor, those in need, and to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
What I have a hard time understanding is why you think a government, especially one elected by the people for the people, should not follow Christian principles as well. What I find most troubling is that many so called Christians have no qualms at all with a government that outlaws abortions or gay rights, yet when it comes to helping Americans with health care needs, unemployment insurance or food stamps, a red flag goes up.
I look forward to your response.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:29pmtomee
Report Post »http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=poor&version1=NIV&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26&startnumber=51
Exodus 23:11
Leviticus 19:10, 22:23, 25:35
Deuteronomy 15:7. 15:11, 24:14,
Ester 9:22
Start there, all give direction on how to help the poor, none directed at any government, directed at the people, the Israelites mostly in those cases. But keep reading the passages that talk about the poor, God definitely tells to take care of them, but He tells His followers too, not the government. Government has their own job to do. Obviously, if the people in the pews don’t step up and do their job someone still must help. My beef is mostly with the Christians NOT stepping up. If you notice my other posts I blame Christians for allowing this to happen (myself included), WE have become used to the government doing it and real change will take their commitment to do as they have been commanded. And it will COST, not just money (though that is needed too), it will cost time and energy too!
tommee
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:16amHey NOBAMAZONE… thank you for providing a list of biblical sources about helping the poor.
I went through every source you listed and found not one that says governments should not help the poor. It seems to me you are making a conclusion that is not supported by the text.
I also noticed that no mention was made of the Catholic church, the Anglican church, the Baptist Church or any other church for that matter. According to your logic, churches should not help the poor because they are not mentioned in the bible when it addresses the poor and needy. Are church groups not supposed to help they poor?
To push the issue to the extreme, even charitable organizations are excluded. I don’t know what kind of charity groups they may have had in biblical times, but I’m sure people organized to accomplish what individuals could not. Because charitable groups are not mentioned in the bible does it mean they too are not supposed to help the poor even if they are set up to do so?
The way I see it, since charities, churches and governments are organized embodiments of individual human beings, it makes little sense to say they should not support the well being of the individuals they represent.
Report Post »louise
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:38amAmerican youth less likely to believe in God? It is from this group that one day America will be governed.
Report Post »Frightening
Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:57amI was thinking the same thing. It does not surprise me, if the kids are attending public school and do not have a parent who is countering all the anti-god stuff they are being taught at school of course they don’t believe in God. It amazes me how many of my 15 yr. olds friends know nothing about God, the bible or Jesus. Thankfully they like to hang out here, and I like to talk to them! We seldom go to church without a teenage friend along.
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:45amI am happy to report that at my church it is the High School ministry that seems to be growing most. In fact, we need to renovate a building next door just to house them all! And our youth are being bold for Christ, reaching out to their friends–even in the public schools. Good thing too, since suicide rates among teens is on a rise. . . 100 baptized last month. . . God is moving among our youth. With God, there is always hope! :)
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:26pmthat is fantastic news justpeachy! keep it up
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:26pm@ Just Peachy………..“Praise the Lord” wish I know where this is.
Report Post »semidisk
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:03amIs it really so frightening that america will one day be governed by a group of people of whom less than 16% are presently atheistic? Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:46amfoobear, you’re not really getting it. The discussion is that of God, not of quantum theory. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not ant–science. The article is about the belief in God, and using science as a way to say God exists is my main point. God created all things, including science, and of course, quantum physics. The miracle that is everything around us, down to the tiniest quark an beyond, didn’t just happen from nothing and by accident.
Report Post »foobear
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:21am@Texascommonsense: I understand it’s about God.
But it is not a good precedent to use bad science to justify God. =)
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:37amAccording to some, then, 92% of Americans are ‘delusional’. Well, schizophrenics are a small minority, too, and they think all the world is crazy except them. Go figure…
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:49amThat is the 8%
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 2:54pmI ask the 8% one question. What is the myth you are living?
Report Post »rcw1120
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 1:08am@RLTW
I live in a “myth” that I am the only person who can make my own choices. I believe that there are many higher powers all around us. My god is in the rain, snow, trees, and the sky. I thank it every day for giving it to us. It does not talk back, but it doesnt have to. I believe in Karma, and I believe that when you die, you die. Thats it. I was very young and decided that I would think of others instead of just myself, so I pushed away the main religions because I realized that I dont care what some strange person on a pulpit has to say about their interpretation of an old book after I read the Bible.
contact me: cowace10@uwgb.edu
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:36amthe other 8% hang out here trying convince us there is no God
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:37amWe need to tell all about Jesus.. it’s up to them to chose to believe or not. Tell the truth long enough and people will begin to believe it!
Report Post »Christian supporting Israel
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:46amI SUPPORT ISRAEL& have changed my Blazer user name until August, in support of Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage rally in Israel
PEOPLE, it’s happening again. This time we cannot say we didn’t know
———————————————————————————–
Why????? White House to Jewish Chorus: Take down pro-obama video )
obama tells President Netanyahu to go back to 1967 borders (since when do we tell our best friends what they do in their own house)
By doing this he is telling the world that he DOES NOT support Israel
Now you have a propaganda CD “Crime against humanity’ anti-Israel song supporting Palestine and being distributed all over the world including churches in the USA. It’s by Coldplay, Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband
His buddy, Bill Ayres & wife are behind the next flotilla
Google (strong supporters of this administration) were instrumental for the revolution in Egypt, giving Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist group
The Arabs surrounding Israel want to storm the borders of Israel to force a reaction
obama snubbed President Netanyahu the last time he was at the White House
Why are we in Libya? Cost $700 million by September. Where is Congress?
PEOPLE, If you support Israel, can we temporarily change our user names to reflect Israel is some small way
GOD BLESS AMERICAN AND GOD BLESS ISRAEL
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:49am@NOBAMAZONE
That 8% is trying to help you. An addict doesn’t always understand he is sick.
I on the other hand will not try to convince anyone to believe in God or don’t believe in God. Just don’t hold others to your moral standards and everything is fine.
Report Post »Archamerican
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:53amof tell lies long enough and you start to believe them
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:09amaaron
Report Post »You obviously don’t know a thing about me, don’t try to lump me in with all who believe in God. Of those 92% I think there would be only a few who actually practice what they preach (have to agree with non-believers who find most Christians hypocrites, I do too). I do not claim to be perfect, nor right all the time, don’t think I have it all figured out, nor do I think that I am better than you or anyone else. I do pray for all of you non-believers, but I pray more for those claiming fellowship with God but spew hate and opening mock Him who they claim. I have a bigger problem with them then I do with those who don’t believe.
dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:13amNobamazone, that 8% try to convince us of so many things. They are outnumbered now. We have woken up to a huge mess! Lots of work to be done. White House needs to be cleaned from top to bottom, the real men hired to do the cleaning (the righteous ones) of Congress need to lock arms, stay strong, we need to continue to place in power those we know and feel have a rightful place to be there (not because of their skin color, not because of their D or R, not because of their rhetoric) we know now how to ‘hear’ them! WE ARE AWAKE! We will not be fooled! We will not be giving you ‘an inch’, a second chance because TIME IS UP! GET IT! SHOW IS OVER! CURTAIN IS PULLED BACK. God is prevailing, we do not need to ‘get people to believe’. We have work to do for God. We are busy right now. People need to see that, and they will. Those 8% that are interested in knowing God, hopefully will start asking about God and that is how it should be–they should seek God.
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 7:29am@ dizzy, you are so right! We should not spend our time trying to convince others with our words, we need to do the work God has for us and others will notice. Quoting the bible to non-believers does nothing to help convince them, they see most Christians as the hypocrites that they are, and this does nothing to further the kingdom of God, it just pushes more away… sad.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:06amFrom what I see, hear & read on a daily basis…I have a hard time believing that it is only 8%. I would have thought the percentage of non-believers would be closer to 25-30% and among our youth I would have put it closer to 60%.
I’m not sure if I should do the happy dance for being so wrong…or doubt the validity of the polls random selection of participants.
Report Post »satwood
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:23amWith only 8% not believing in God, why are we pushing God out of the public eye. I hope that 8% will eventually see the light.
http://christianityspeakout.com/
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:35amHere’s a question for that 8%. There are many non-believers trolling this site. Non-believers who believe they are smart, educated, and have given countless hours of ponderous thought to many areas of discussion. In some cases, they are pompous, arrogant, and condescending. JZS comes to mind, for example. I would like for them, and their superior intellect, to respond to this.
Let’s briefly discuss the big-bang theory. I’m inclined to believe it occurred as we are taught. Atoms consist of almost entirely of empty space. In fact, they’re greater than 99.99% empty space. Gravity, being the most powerful force in the universe, is certainly capable of compressing some thing made of that much empty space into virtually nothing. In that state of being, nothing we know today can exist. As previously discussed, not even atoms can exist in their current form. They’re compressed so small electrons cannot rotate. In this state, not only can life exist; even the most basic building blocks of life cannot exist. Then, BANG! Matter is hurled in all directions at very high speed. Atoms spontaneously begin their movement of the electrons orbiting their nucleus, and the planets and individual solar systems eventually form. Fast-forward roughly 13.7 billion years and the most marvelous of creations now exist. Take humans as an example. We are self-replicating, self-healing, self-sustaining, self-aware, think, conscience beings, capable of love, compassion, and unde
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:36amHaving said that, the non-believers would have us believe everything we know today came from absolutely nothing. No creator, no guidance; it just simply happened out of nothing. That, my friends, is a fairy tale.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting your thought-provoking replies.
Report Post »Locutus
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:39amWhat I find frightening is the fact that we as a people are no better than people from 2000 years ago. The Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse and countless other religions have come and gone, and with it sweeping away all traces of rational thought. Our world has become a batteground for religion. It’s “good” vs “evil”. Christian vs Islam. Call it a war on terror if that helps you sleep at night, but when it comes down to the truth, we are fighting a global religious battle. SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY, Jesus takes on Muhammed. Who will win? Who cares?
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:44amGod is “the uncaused cause”.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
Dustyluv
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:48amBelieving in God does not save you any more than believing in the Eater Bunny….A PERSONAL realtionship is the only way in God’s family…PERIOD!
Report Post »foobear
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 8:55am@Texascommonsense: While your heart is in the right place, it’s not entirely accurate physics-wise.
Atoms are not “empty space” in the sense that they’re actually the Bohr model (what we learned in middle school) little balls with electron-balls whizzing around them. An electron before it is measured is actually a wavefunction that is sort of smeared across all space (and I mean all space) with the highest areas of probability corresponding to what we traditionally consider orbits.
You can’t “compress” the empty space out of an atom due to something called the Pauli Exclusion Principle that prohibits another electron from being in the same state at the same time. The lowest electron orbits allow only two electrons into the same place (because there are two states allowed, with opposite spins). You literally cannot push any more electrons into the same place at the same state. That’s the ultimate reason that everything feels solid to us, even though our atoms are “mostly empty space”. (If you push really hard, that extra energy will just push an electron into a higher orbit.)
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:04amI do not believe this one bit! 92%. Please… If that were so, this country would not be in the sorry state it is! And high school grads would be able to say Amen!!!!! 92% what a joke!
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:11amfoobear, you seem to be contradicting yourself. you said “Atoms are not empty space” and you said, “even though our atoms are mostly empty space”. The are mostly empty. Compare the size of the individual components of an atom to the space between them, and it’s greater than 99.99%. I know there are other factors, but that goes beyond the scope of my discussion. My main point remains the same. Matter didn’t exist in the form we know it today prior to the big-bang. What you’re saying about the Pauli Exclusion Principle seems to contradict the big-bang theory when all matter was reduced to basically nothing due to the force of gravity. That‘s why it’s only a theory, like many other things we are taught as fact.
The main intent of my discussion was what happened between then and now, and the belief in a creator.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:13amIf this pole is true, it is time for the 92% reverent and believers to PUSH God back in to Public Schools and Goverenment. We are the majorty, the 8% non-believers need to SHUT UP set down and respest our Rights TOO! If they don’t like it …THEN LEAVE!
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:43amHey TEXASCOMMONSENSE… you say: “non-believers would have us believe everything we know today came from absolutely nothing. No creator, no guidance; it just simply happened out of nothing. That, my friends, is a fairy tale.”
Let me ask this of you. Who made the creator?
Don’t you see a contradiction in your position?
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:53amFor the 8% that will meet God this “OH CRAP” is for you!
Report Post »ecso828
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:55amSo…. in a nut shell, 92 percent of us allow the other 8 percent tell us that we’re not allowed to pray or mention God in public?
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:03amI was surprised that it was that high. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sRcbiSa0rA
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:04amtommee, you made no attempt to respond to anything in my post. I will rely to yours. The creator didn’t need to be created. He doesn’t exist in any form you know, or could even understand, in your current existence. That’s not a jab at you; that goes for all of us. One day, we will all understand. The wise ones among us seek understanding before that then. You will not find what you’re not looking for.
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:29amBANJARMON,
You might want to educate yourself in school first before you enforce a law for schools that’s unconstitutional. It’s called “Separation of church and state”.
Thanks for playing though.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:38am@Aaron in Polk County and you are part of the “enlightened” 8% that is going to heal the 92% of us that believe in God? It is obvious that you are on a fools errand.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:44amAaron in Polk County, reply to my post. I would love to hear your opinion.
Report Post »SeasonOfReason
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:46amI think so many people answer yes because they have been indoctrinated with the idea that if you say “no” to that question you will be eternally tortured, which ,by the way, has no basis in evidence.
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:47am@The_Almighty_Creestof
I know this may be a revelation to you as well. Just because Gay folks, Pro-Choice, socialists and the like, believe they are a majority now does not make it so. Also, being loud does not a majority make. If you watch TV and see a huge LOUD demonstration, you would think “wow! The majority opinion has swung!”, but when you pull the camera back you see it was just a cropped shot meant to deceive.
Quit watching so much TV.
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:02am“Youths, Easterners and Libs”
The majority of Americans, in other words.
Another BRILLIANT article on the Blaz-ay.
Report Post »SeasonOfReason
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:07amFor the record, the United States of America is not based on majority rule. See Bill of Rights.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:08amEnoughBS
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:29am
BANJARMON,
You might want to educate yourself in school first before you enforce a law for schools that’s unconstitutional. It’s called “Separation of church and state”.
______________________________________________________________________________
Interesting… please show anywhere in the Constitution where is says “separation of Church and state”. Please oh please show me. BTW, please show me where in the Constitution that Public schooling is “right”? Please tell me why (then) it is ok to teach a religion in school on the belief of anti-God? Why is that ok? Please show me where our forefathers were NOT believers in God and their foundation for this country was not God. Oh please show me… but before you do, please look at all the founders quotes on God…here:
http://www.shadesofgrace.org/2010/05/05/is-america-a-christian-nation-more-quotes-from-our-founders/
We are a Christian nation and people ain’t putting up with that BS “don’t push it off on me”. I have sat back quiet long enough. I have seen and taught teens and once they stray from God’s principals they get into deep trouble. Honestly, think what you want, but for me, I declare Jesus as Lord and savior!
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:19amHey TEXASCOMMONSENSE
I did indeed respond to something from your post. I even quoted part of it! Here it is again. “non-believers would have us believe everything we know today came from absolutely nothing. No creator, no guidance; it just simply happened out of nothing. That, my friends, is a fairy tale.”
Now you say, “The creator didn’t need to be created. He doesn’t exist in any form you know, or could even understand… One day, we will all understand.”
Your words remind me of the phrase, ‘Once upon a time… and they all lived happily ever after.”
Let me insert your words into the above phrase. Once upon a time “the creator that doesn’t need to be created or exist in any form you could even understand”, made the world and instructed us to believe in Him. If we follow His word, “One day, we will all understand”, and live happily ever after.
Who is sounding like a fairy tale?
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:21am@ EnoughBS
And you may want to educate yourself before you suggest others do so. There is nothing in the constitution about “separation of church and state” …not even phrased remotely like that in the 1st amendment. It exists primarily as an “opinion” in a letter written in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson and echoed by some others.
The actual constitution says ” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…“ Which many of us constitutionalists believe means ”we are not going to favor one over the other and we are not going to tell you that you have to or don’t have to believe. It is up to individuals, individual institutions and so on…but it is not illegal or “against the constitution.”
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:30amCan’t have armageddon if everyone truly believed now, can we?
Report Post »tomsinclairjr
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:50amI think that those 8% should go find the country of their choice where they would be well served. It sure isn’t the USA. Why do we allow the minority to rule us? That is a direct violation of our Bill of Rights and Constitution which tells us that the MAJORITY rules. OK. We made a mistake electing Obama, so let’s not make the same mistake twice and re-elect him. OK?
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 12:05pmtommee, simply explain the creation of life without a creator.
Report Post »EnoughBS
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 12:14pmSorry people!! I made a mistake on the reference!! whew!!
It was coined by Jefferson (at least in regards for the USA) and then again saw itself in the Supreme Court. There was substantial evidence Jefferson was an agnostic- the main one was his “re-writing” of the Bible and cutting out all the fairy tale nonsense. He’s also said that “He hasn’t found one redeeming quality in orthodox Christianity.” and so on. There are quite a few more quotes you can find out by doing some research on your own.
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 12:31pm@AARON, no we will hold you to a moral standard. Relativism is for loosers, and democrats.
Report Post »discardofevil
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:22pmAmen!! If you are not a Christian go find a different country! Good posts Blazers!,,
Report Post »God Bless America!!
copatriots
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:31pm@ ENOUGHBS
BS it is indeed. Your argument is still flawed. Why would we rely on a LETTER from Jefferson as the basis of intent? For every letter you can quote from, I can provide you at least 10 indicating other founders (George Washington, John Adams, Sam Adams….just to name a few) believed in Sovereign God and founded this country on those beliefs. Why are we not using their influence in today’s society?
Report Post »prolifeevangelical
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 2:45pmYoung adults historically always have lower rates of belief than older adults. As people age, they tend to realize that God really is there.
These rates really haven’t changed over the past 30 years.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 2:46pmI am one of the 90% who would say yes to that question as I believe there is a higher power in the universe and the term god is as good as any in terms of a label. Having said that I also believe humans have no clue what that power is or how it has, does and will influence our world. The only useful thing that has come out of any and all religions in terms of everyday life is the golden rule “do unto others as you would have them do to you”. This is the only universal and insightful rule that is consistent across cultures and religions. It is of course the one that people seem to ignore universally in their daily lives and in the collective. The greatest arrogance of any person or group is to claim they are somehow closer to “god”, chosen or speak on behalf of the higher power. Such a claim in and of itself displays an ignorance regarding the collective existence that any benevolent higher power or God would want.
Report Post »Amos37
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 3:04pmIt doesn’t matter how many people believe in a god, because God said that he made many gods. It’s more important to know how many people truly believe in Jesus as the Son of God. If you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God, then how many people study God’s Word everyday? I know of one other person who does.
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
The question should have been, “How many people have a relationship with God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.” Also, just because I love Jesus Christ doesn’t mean that God approves of homosexual relationships or that we get down like that ;)
Report Post »tommee
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 4:17pmHey TEXASCOMMONSENSE
There is no need to explain the creation of life. Life and our universe just are… always have been and probably always will be. This makes far more sense than saying it has to start somewhere, somehow.
To look for a cause of life outside of our reality in existence is irrational. It leads to all kinds of logical contradictions which actually tend to prove the non existence of God. (This is the reason why higher educated people are less inclined to believe in God. They’ve more likely worked out the logic and have seen the absurdity of the concept.)
If one is to believe in God, it must be done through faith and faith alone. Any argument that extrapolates by saying “there must be a cause of life somewhere, therefore God exists” only gets bogged down in logical troubles and a world of fairy tales outside of our existence.
Any attempt to explain faith rationally only makes it harder to endure. Scholars know it as testing the faith
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 4:56pmhmmmm… how is it the majority of believers elect a majority of secularists to run the country? something isn’t right with this poll.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 5:28pmwow.
Big surprise…
Democrat is the party of God-less-ness.
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 6:12pmIN the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ( John 1:1)
Report Post »God said it, I believe it, case closed. The Word was made flesh & dwelt among us, ( John 1:14)
Jude 18…..Told there would be mockers in the last time……yep, there are plenty of them,( pray for ‘em)
Sin loves darkness, God is the light of the world.
Charlesjr
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:02pmhttp://hughcpeconjrs.blogspot.com/2011/06/district-judge-fred-biery-needs-to.html
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:23pmtommee, God believes in you. I wish you all the best after biological life.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 9:50pmbut but but obama said we are not a Christian nation?
Report Post »foobear
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:51pm@TexasCommonSense: I didn’t contradict myself, I put quotes around “the empty space”. The quotes mean that I’m using your term, but it’s not accurate.
“The are mostly empty. Compare the size of the individual components of an atom to the space between them, and it’s greater than 99.99%.”
That this statement is wrong is the point I’m trying to make. There’s no such thing as “the size of an electron”, precisely, if you study quantum mechanics. (It’s an open question if electrons are “actually” point-particles or vibrating or something else). Think of an electron as being a space-filling cloud around the nucleus that will block other electrons in the same configuration from overlapping.
That‘s why I’m saying “the atoms are empty space” thing is basically incorrect science. Nobody knows what they are, exactly, but they behave like solid bowling balls toward other electrons in the same configuration.
“My main point remains the same. Matter didn’t exist in the form we know it today prior to the big-bang.”
‘Prior to the big bang’ is currently an undefined statement.
“What you’re saying about the Pauli Exclusion Principle seems to contradict the big-bang theory when all matter was reduced to basically nothing due to the force of gravity. That‘s why it’s only a theory, like many other things we are taught as fact.”
It only contradicts the Big Bang theory because you don’t understand it. All the matter in the universe was *not* co
Report Post »cous1933
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:56pmEnoughBS,
When Jefferson referred to “separation of church and state” in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Church he was simply reassuring the leaders of the church that the federal government was not going to establish any state religion. This reference is a far cry from the extreme positions of atheist parents becoming hysterical if any reference is made of God or prayer in a school today. In fact for the majority of Americas early history the Bible was issued to school students.
As far as Jefferson being agnostic, this is just more revisionist history that liberal atheists push in attempt to slander our Founding Fathers. Jefferson attended Church regularly (in the U.S. Capitol Building in fact – how’s that for “separation of church and state”?), read the bible religiously and made the version of the Bible that you refer to by cutting out all of the qouted words attributed to Jesus in the New Testament for his own study and also for use in evangelizing indians. In a letter to his friend and fellow Founding Father Benjamin Rush, Jefferson wrote “To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense he wished anyone to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other.” This doesn’t sound like an agnostic to me. He certainly believed in God and followed Christ in word and deed.
Report Post »Guitarman3366
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 10:59pmIn the case of the Danbury Baptists, the letter from Jefferson that started the separation of church and state myth, Jefferson assured the Baptists that the federal government would not interfere with their church. This letter has taken the phrase, “wall of separation between church and state” and applied it to the First Amendment and limited all mention of God in public. Jefferson would be furious at this perversion of his intent. The Baptist had a rough time in the early years of our Nation, often being threatened and chased out of states by Episcopalians and Congregationalists (who had the political support from many Federalists at the time of Jefferson’s presidency. Jefferson wrote to Bejamin Rush, “The clause of the Constitution which, while it secured the freedom of the press, covered also the freedom of religion, had given to the clergy a very favorite hope of obtaining an establishment of a particular form of Christianity through the United States; and as every sect believes its own form the true one, every one perhaps hoped for his own, but especially the Episcopalians and Congregationalists. The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their hopes and they believe that any portion of power confided to me will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly.” Jefferson was simply saying that he would be sure that Congress would not have the authority to establish a nation-wide denomination.
Everything I have read on Jef
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 11:44pmIt won’t be easy convincing my generation that their is a god not with the media pounding in the latest fads. I was an Atheist for 4 years before Glenn Beck opened my eyes and then I somehow found my way back to god. I think my generation can be won back but it won’t be easy which is why Glenn needs to start focusing on that group of people before they are lost for the next 20-50 years.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:00amAWWW, that’s all warm and fuzzy… The DEVIL believes in God so who cares what this poll says. Believing in God does nothing for your soul.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:21amTexasCommonSense, your assumption is that God exists and has always existed. God was not created, He simply has always existed. Okay, fair enough. You have to start somewhere and that’s as good as an assumption as any other. And then God created the universe. Okay.
And so God created the billions and billions of galaxies, and millions and millions of stars in those galaxies and millions of habitable planets within each and universe so vast that it’s size is beyond the comprehension of the human mind.
And, after having done that, God is now whispering to Michelle Bachman about whether she should run for President.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 7:41am@ Aaron in Polk County
Report Post »There have to be standards of acceptable behavior in order for a society to exist as an effective republic. Exactly what “standards” do you subscribe to? Moral relativism is no standard at all. Just as there are physical absolutes in Natural Law there are moral absolutes that must be adhered to and as our founders understood and supported, the Bible is the best standard by which to conduct ourselves to insure a moral and righteous people
TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 8:39amjzs, in the first paragraph you seem to be agreeing with me. Great.
In the second paragraph, you’re absolutely right. Space is more vast than most have even considered, and we can comprehend. The number of planets are truly staggering. Assuming that less than .01% meet all the habitability requirements for human life, that’s still a mind-boggling number. The next logical question is are we the lone intelligent life or are we not? Considering those kinds of numbers, either answer is just as intriguing.
Third paragraph. Since I mention Michele Bachmann no were in my discussion, I can only assume you were being flippant about God’s influence on our lives. God does influence us indirectly, if you ask him to and are open to his guidance. if you choose not, then you’re on your own in this biological existence, fr better or for worse.
Being that our existence, biologically speaking, is so brief, it would seem to most to be somewhat pointless. This isn’t all it is about. That I can assure you.
Report Post »friscokid1
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:23amNobody wants to convince you there is no God, we just want to convince you how absurd your religion is just like most of the founding fathers tried to do: Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Thomas Paine, Adams, etc. They all subscribed to Deism; not Christianity.
Report Post »Guitarman3366
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:25amMost people today believe that Franklin was a Deist, and in fact, Franklin did at one time call himself a Deist. However, Franklin viewed Deism in a different way as we do today. Today, we view Deism as the belief that there is a remote, watchmaker type God, who created the earth and then took off, never to look back. Franklin, however, was not that kind of Deist. Franklin said, ” I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth — That God governs in the Affairs of Men” at The Constitutional Convention on June 28, 1787. Franklin did value Christian teachings, but like Jefferson did not like the corruption that Christian churches have seen through the years. “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupt changes, and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some Doubts as to his divinity; tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and I think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble….”
Report Post »Guitarman3366
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:26amFranklin wrote when questioned on his religious beliefs:
Report Post »[I believe] That there is one God, who made all things.
That he governs the world by his providence.
That he ought to be worshiped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving.
But that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to man.
That the soul is immortal.
And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.
Guitarman3366
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:26amHe advised his friends and family to go to church. Franklin was a good friend and supporter of George Whitefield, preacher in the Great Awakening. Whitefield and Franklin together fought British Parliament on the Stamp Act, often citing biblical references on the moral conflicts of taxation without representation. Franklin recognized the impact that preachers in the founding era had on America. He recognized the spark of Liberty in the hearts of Americans when they heard preachers like Whitefield speak of individual liberty and a personal relationship with God. It was far from the Church of England’s system of God speaking through the King and working its way down to the collective. It was people like Whitefield who showed Franklin that God in public brought good to America. Franklin said, “History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of public religion, from it’s usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischiefs of superstition, etc., and the excellency of Christian religion above all others ancient or modern.”
Report Post »Guitarman3366
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 12:29amBy the way, that’s just Franklin. He was probably the least Religious of the ones you mentioned. You say that you will convince me that Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and other Founders were deists, yet the evidence is on the side that they were at least God-fearing men, most of whom were devout Christians. Deists? Nope.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:34pmfoobear, I disagree with it being bad science. The big ban theory is widely believed to be true. Every thin in the universe was supposed to be in a very small area. Life as we know it, or even the building blocks of life, couldn’t exist in such an environment. So how did it come to be after that. That‘s all I’m really saying, semantics aside. I know we’re essentially on the same side. God bless.
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