You can read the whole story here (the bold is mine).
Just three years ago, half of the U.S. adult population felt the influence of religion on American life was rising. Today, only a little more than a quarter believe so.
A recent Gallup Poll found that just 27 percent of Americans perceive religion’s influence to be on the upswing while 67 percent of Americans say religion as a whole is losing influence on American life.
The trend is consistent with those who attend religious services regularly as well as those who seldom or never attend services, with majorities saying religion is losing influence in this country.
Since 2005, the Gallup Poll has recorded a downward trend in those who believe the influence of religion is increasing. The record low for this perception was in 1970 when only 14 percent said religion was increasing in influence at that time.
The last time a majority of Americans felt the influence of religion was rising was in December 2001, just months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when 71 percent said religious influence was increasing – the highest percentage Gallup Poll recorded since 1957.
Previous polls show that there was a long period of doubt about the influence of religion during the Vietnam War era – from 1965 through 1975, according to the Gallup report. Then, in the 1980s, religious influence was perceived as growing when religious conservatism, or the “religious right,” was gaining prominence during the Ronald Reagan presidency.
The Gallup Poll suggests that the recent waning perception that religion is increasing in influence is “partially a result of the decline of Republican political strength throughout President George W. Bush’s second term.”
“At the close of 2008, few Americans perceive that religion is thriving in U.S. society, and a relatively small majority believe religion is relevant to solving today’s problems,” the report stated. “These perceptions may stem in part from the political climate – characterized by a weakened Republican Party and the incoming Democratic administration – as well as from the overwhelming consensus that the main problems facing the country today are economic.”
In other major findings, the percentage of Americans who believe that religion can answer society’s problems is at an all-time low, with only 53 percent saying religion “can answer all or most of today’s problems.”
6 responses so far ↓
1 Jenny // Jan 4, 2009 at 10:21 pm
That’s one poll.
Some may chose to have faith in Gallup, others like me, have faith in God.
But which one gives you hope? Remind me again what Gallup brings you? Does it stir your soul? Does being an Atheist making you any happier?
I still vote for God and love and hope and optimism for a soulful eternity and I still see mostly beauty all around me everyday. I chose to.
Yes, I see bad things and bad people and predators, some of whom despicably cloak themselves in religious garments. But I don’t see God in those people. The Bible’s teachings don’t see God in those people either. God is NOT in those people. The Bible is very explicit in its warnings about these people.
Gallup’s one poll that the crowd is leaning toward giving up on God can’t convince me to join in and give up on love, hope, optimism for eternity and beauty, too. It’s a choice I make.
Love you, friend.
And Happy New Year – I am hoping 2009 will be a better year for us, too!
2 Tim Stroud // Jan 7, 2009 at 12:43 am
Religious influence rises and decline in cycles like the stock market. If it were a stock, and has found a bottom, maybe it would be time to buy. But if you check back in a hundred years I do not believe that you would find much difference between its influence now and in that future.
For Jenny, I get the feeling that you are the type of person that would find love, hope and optimism all around you without the aid of your faith in god. But if that is what sustains you in your life and if that promotes an honest and open environment for you to flourish, then good for you.
For me, I must be honest within myself and say that I see no hand of god, no divine intervention, in all of the history of the human species. And sometimes I see good people, that act more in line with the Christian principles whether they are Christian or not, than does some non-existent, and therefore non-acting, god.
3 deanna // Jan 7, 2009 at 8:54 am
Hey, Bill –
Another great post… and a great catalyst for discussion.
BTW, there’s a thing called a Premio Dardos award circulating among blogs and I’ve given you one. You can read why on my blog at http://DeAnnaCameron.blogspot.com (not the belly dance blog).
Sorry, there’s no cash equivalent for the prize…
Talk to you soon
4 Jumper2.0 // Jan 7, 2009 at 3:22 pm
It seems to me that Religion and faith is used interchangeably here? Am I misunderstanding ! They are two completely different things. Religion having less influence in America may be good in some ways, bad in others. But faith having less influence is just plain bad!
5 Tim Stroud // Jan 8, 2009 at 1:21 am
Jumper2.0, I don’t understand how faith having less influence is bad. Maybe you can expand on that.
6 Jumper2.0 // Jan 8, 2009 at 6:07 am
Sure?
But I think it’s simple.
I can only express this from a Christian faith, but Jesus is clear that faith in him is about a personal relationship and not about religion.
And a personal relationship leads to caring about what Jesus cared about and following the example of love and faith that he exhibited! Jesus spent his time with those that were not considered religious, in fact his criticisms were of the religious, not of Rome or government, etc.
So if you had faith and it didn’t affect your life, then what kind of faith is that?
And if you have many that have faith and it didn’t have an influence on life, then again, what kind of faith is that?
Religion on the other hand is not about faith (not about the heart), it’s about following external rules to get it “right with God” and/or for a reward at the end. Obviously some good has come out of it, but also some bad!
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