NationStates Jolt Archive


Americans and religion

Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:10
only 44% of americans attend church regularly

http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/Releases/1997/Dec97/r121097a.html

2004 stats for US of A:
0.3% Atheists 83% christians.
http://religionstatistics.bravehost.com/statamer1.htm
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:11
Now I'll just wait for someone to say the evidence isn't like they did the other evidence I presented.
Bottle
24-07-2004, 21:19
i have conflicting numbers. according to the American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) conducted in 2001, Christians make up 76.5% of America. I posted below some of the numbers; the first number is the raw figure of believers, the second is the percentage of total Americans, and the third number is the percent change in membership from 1990.

Christianity: 159,030,000 76.5% +5%
Nonreligious/Secular: 13,116,000 27,539,000 13.2% +110%
Judaism: 2,831,000 1.3% -10%
Islam: 1,104,000 0.5% +109%
Buddhism: 1,082,000 0.5% +170%
Agnostic: 991,000 0.5% -16%
Atheist: 902,000 0.4%
Hinduism: 766,000 0.4% +237%
Unitarian Universalist: 629,000 0.3% +25%
Wiccan/Pagan/Druid: 307,000 0.1%

the National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI) also found that Christianity is the belief of about 77% of the American population, and found that "non-religious" is the second largest religious denomination in America, more than twice as large as Judaism, Islam, and all "other" religions combined.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:24
i have conflicting numbers. according to the American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS) conducted in 2001, Christians make up 76.5% of America. I posted below some of the numbers; the first number is the raw figure of believers, the second is the percentage of total Americans, and the third number is the percent change in membership from 1990.

Christianity: 159,030,000 76.5% +5%
Nonreligious/Secular: 13,116,000 27,539,000 13.2% +110%
Judaism: 2,831,000 1.3% -10%
Islam: 1,104,000 0.5% +109%
Buddhism: 1,082,000 0.5% +170%
Agnostic: 991,000 0.5% -16%
Atheist: 902,000 0.4%
Hinduism: 766,000 0.4% +237%
Unitarian Universalist: 629,000 0.3% +25%
Wiccan/Pagan/Druid: 307,000 0.1%

the National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI) also found that Christianity is the belief of about 77% of the American population, and found that "non-religious" is the second largest religious denomination in America, larger than Judaism, Islam, and all "other" religions combined.

those stats are similar to the ones from the url I posted in the other thread.
Nonreligious is not synanomous with being athiest, as stated else where, you can be a christian and still be nonreligious.
these stats are 2001 stats
the links I used in my op are from 2004 and up to date
Though, the church attendance one is not 2004.
Bottle
24-07-2004, 21:26
those stats are similar to the ones from the url I posted in the other thread.
Nonreligious is not synanomous with being athiest, as stated else where, you can be a christian and still be nonreligious.
these stats are 2001 stats
the links I used in my op are from 2004 and up to date
Though, the church attendance one is not 2004.

i don't think i ever claimed that being non-religious was the same as being atheist. why are you bringing that up? and what exactly is your point with all this?
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:29
i don't think i ever claimed that being non-religious was the same as being atheist. why are you bringing that up? and what exactly is your point with all this?
just proving the point of an argument my friend had on general that atheists were less than 1% of the population.
Originally, US News and World Report were cited. But the magazine was rejected : cause they claimed it was a biased right wing publication
and its website is a paysite.

This is confirming what USNews and World Report had reported in their article and shows their article was not biased.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:30
Bottle wrote:
i don't think i ever claimed that being non-religious was the same as being atheist.
then what was your point?
Purly Euclid
24-07-2004, 21:30
those stats are similar to the ones from the url I posted in the other thread.
Nonreligious is not synanomous with being athiest, as stated else where, you can be a christian and still be nonreligious.
these stats are 2001 stats
the links I used in my op are from 2004 and up to date
Though, the church attendance one is not 2004.
I think a more apt term would be secular people. They vaguely acknowledge that God exists, and there is an afterlife. However, many of them seem to assume they'll automatically be rewarded, and don't have to work for it, or even think about it. It leads me to conclude that America isn't a very religious nation.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:31
I think a more apt term would be secular people. They vaguely acknowledge that God exists, and there is an afterlife. However, many of them seem to assume they'll automatically be rewarded, and don't have to work for it, or even think about it. It leads me to conclude that America isn't a very religious nation.
finally some one who understands.
Bottle
24-07-2004, 21:31
Bottle wrote:
i don't think i ever claimed that being non-religious was the same as being atheist.
then what was your point?

you posted results on who was Christian, and you are Christian. i posted information on non-religious people, as i am non-religious.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:33
you posted results on who was Christian, and you are Christian. i posted information on non-religious people, as i am non-religious.
believe it or not, I am actually a non religious christian myself these days.
I don't attend church regularly anymore, nor am I active as I used to be.
why not? cause I can't stand false pastors, false teachers, or false prophets.
I go to a church and I hear one, I always have to confront them in front of everyone, and doing that don't make you very popular in the church.
Plus the great amount of hypocrisy among modern american christians angers me a great deal.

Jesus said, "Be sure to it, that you follow not the way of the hypocrites for theirs is the way to ruin and destruction. The road to hell and perdition."
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 21:38
Our problem with religion does not lie in who or who does not go to church. Our problem is that religion in America at least, is sold as a product *For just 19.95 you too can order your video of takin a walk with JESUS!* iT IS SHAMELESS AND hell bent on making a profit out of people's beliefs. I was raised a christian (catholic) and do pray but it is very private w/ me and I feel should be w/ everyone else. You cannot force others to practice your religion you can only let them find thier own way. It has no buissness on billboards, radio, t.v. or especially schools. It often also pervaids our legislative process which pisses me off to no extent. If people want to find a church trust me they do not have far to look. If you want to pray to whomever great! just don't freakin try to sell it to me as a better way of life.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:42
Our problem with religion does not lie in who or who does not go to church. Our problem is that religion in America at least, is sold as a product *For just 19.95 you too can order your video of takin a walk with JESUS!* iT IS SHAMELESS AND hell bent on making a profit out of people's beliefs. I was raised a christian (catholic) and do pray but it is very private w/ me and I feel should be w/ everyone else. You cannot force others to practice your religion you can only let them find thier own way. It has no buissness on billboards, radio, t.v. or especially schools. It often also pervaids our legislative process which pisses me off to no extent. If people want to find a church trust me they do not have far to look. If you want to pray to whomever great! just don't freakin try to sell it to me as a better way of life.
yes you are right.
Jesus stated, "It is written, my house shall be a house of purity and prayer, but you turned it in to a den of theives." Church is not a place to make a buck. It is to be a place of prayer, but truely, many american christians have turned their churches into dens for theives and robbers.
The mega churches and certain congregations of today, fall under this condemnation from the son of God himself.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:44
Our problem with religion does not lie in who or who does not go to church. Our problem is that religion in America at least, is sold as a product *For just 19.95 you too can order your video of takin a walk with JESUS!* iT IS SHAMELESS AND hell bent on making a profit out of people's beliefs. I was raised a christian (catholic) and do pray but it is very private w/ me and I feel should be w/ everyone else. You cannot force others to practice your religion you can only let them find thier own way. It has no buissness on billboards, radio, t.v. or especially schools. It often also pervaids our legislative process which pisses me off to no extent. If people want to find a church trust me they do not have far to look. If you want to pray to whomever great! just don't freakin try to sell it to me as a better way of life.
It has no buissness on billboards, radio, t.v.
eh, all those are covered by free speech. So you can't ban them just cause your offended by them. THere is no right to not be offended.
Purly Euclid
24-07-2004, 21:47
Our problem with religion does not lie in who or who does not go to church. Our problem is that religion in America at least, is sold as a product *For just 19.95 you too can order your video of takin a walk with JESUS!* iT IS SHAMELESS AND hell bent on making a profit out of people's beliefs. I was raised a christian (catholic) and do pray but it is very private w/ me and I feel should be w/ everyone else. You cannot force others to practice your religion you can only let them find thier own way. It has no buissness on billboards, radio, t.v. or especially schools. It often also pervaids our legislative process which pisses me off to no extent. If people want to find a church trust me they do not have far to look. If you want to pray to whomever great! just don't freakin try to sell it to me as a better way of life.
It's far too sad that religion has become a commodity. Martin Luther formed Protestantism to, in part, protest against the sale of indulgences. Now his own church is doing that.
I have to say, however, that in the past fifty years, the Catholics have gotten better at treating religion as spiritual, and not some weird cult where you are saved by only preforming these rituals.
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 21:48
Not offensive to me in the least however it markets religion which does not need to be marketed. People will find it or they won't. trying to influence them
to christianity is wrong. God love us all I believe no matter who we pray to as long as we are respectfull of ourselves, others, simple creatures(animals, insects etc etc) and our environment. We hold the belief that every living thing has a soul. Pagans believe this as well which in our eyes maked perfect sense.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 21:50
Not offesive to me in the least however it markets religion which does not need to be marketed. People will find it or they won't. trying to influence them
to christianity is wrong. God love us all I believe no matter who we pray to as long as we are respectfull of ourselves, others, simple creatures(animals, insects etc etc) and our environment. We hold the belief that every living thing has a soul. Pagans believe this as well which in our eyes maked perfect sense.
I strongly disagree.
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 21:52
Well then so be it. But how can you say that we as humans are any better than these simple forms of life?
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 21:59
Compared to Europe and many other countries, Americans are very religious and very uptight. It's the reason so much of the rest of the world was scratching their heads over why so many Americans reacted the way they did to the President's affair. France's president has a child out of wedlock, and the French don't give a shit because he's a decent president. Same with this wole homosexual marriage issue. It's said to be derived from our Puritanical beginnings. Now whether or not we're the most hypocritical of all religious nations is a completely different argument, but we are definitely a religious country.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:00
more stats:

to teach creationism and evolutionism in the school: 68% yes - 29% not;


evolution only without god 10%

33% of believers in a
literal Bible.

76-82% a favour of the use of anticonceptives
but among all the americans 46% think that is assassination

95% believe in god
80% in the divinity of Christ

25% of all americans believe in some degree in the reincarnation.

Gallup poll (may 2004) on religion, the belief in God was followed by 90% of Americans

5% were not sure

On morals it was regarded as morally wrong prematrimonial sex by a 36%, euthanasia by a 41%, to have a baby out of matrimony a 45%, homosexuality by a 54%, and abortion by a 50%.

only 14% that feel that Bible is only a book written by men

Strikingly, the ABC News PrimeTime Poll (february of 2004), which conducted a survey about the personal beliefs
related to Bible's in regard to the history of of Noah, there was a 60% who answered that everything related is literal,
including that the whole world was flooded; similar percent (61%) on literal belief was stated on the account that the world
was created in 6 days.

In the Fox News appeared a survey conducted by Opinion Dynamic Poll on beliefs (september 2003). A 92% believes in God
(where a 5% does not, and a 3% is unsure), in Heaven 85%, in Hell 74%, and in Devil 71%. The reincarnation is believed by
one in four. This same company checked the positionament about abortion issues (april 2004): a 44% self identified as
pro-choice, a 47% as pro-life.

Harris Polls has researched also issues related to religion among Americans, so that in february 2003 a 90% believed in God;
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:01
Well then so be it. But how can you say that we as humans are any better than these simple forms of life?
can't prove it but can't disprove it either, its all based on faith.
The bible no where says that animals have souls.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:02
Compared to Europe and many other countries, Americans are very religious and very uptight. It's the reason so much of the rest of the world was scratching their heads over why so many Americans reacted the way they did to the President's affair. France's president has a child out of wedlock, and the French don't give a shit because he's a decent president. Same with this wole homosexual marriage issue. It's said to be derived from our Puritanical beginnings. Now whether or not we're the most hypocritical of all religious nations is a completely different argument, but we are definitely a religious country.
Astonishing for the europeans, America is not unreligious like Marlon Brando or Woody Allen; luciferian like
the Rolling Stones or Marilyn Manson or Metallica; lesbian like Withney Houston or Jodie Foster; liberal like Cheer or Hillary
Clinton or Demi Moore, amoral like Mikel Jackson or Prince or Madonna or Larry Flint (the pride calls the fame ?), like the
hippies, like the New Age, etc., etc., etc. ... What do you think wich would be the effect of forty years of these persons and
their values in the West ?.
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:04
Screw stats, man. I didn't get a questionaire- did any of you guys? Statistics can and will be tweaked. Not to say they're not interesting to look at, but too many people regard them as sheer, undeniable fact. Not attacking anyone who posted them- just sick of so many people quoting stats like they're absolute truth.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:06
Screw stats, man. I didn't get a questionaire- did any of you guys? Statistics can and will be tweaked. Not to say they're not interesting to look at, but too many people regard them as sheer, undeniable fact. Not attacking anyone who posted them- just sick of so many people quoting stats like they're absolute truth.
depends on how the question was asked.
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:06
Astonishing for the europeans, America is not unreligious like Marlon Brando or Woody Allen; luciferian like
the Rolling Stones or Marilyn Manson or Metallica; lesbian like Withney Houston or Jodie Foster; liberal like Cheer or Hillary
Clinton or Demi Moore, amoral like Mikel Jackson or Prince or Madonna or Larry Flint (the pride calls the fame ?), like the
hippies, like the New Age, etc., etc., etc. ... What do you think wich would be the effect of forty years of these persons and
their values in the West ?.

Huh?
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:06
I always get questionaires.
How is it you never got a questionaire?
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:07
Huh?
europeans expect us to follow the beliefs of these celebrities but we don't.
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 22:08
What's so immoral about porn? Id rather someone jackoff than rape a person out of frustration or pure lust. It is a positive way a human being to get thier uumm urges out.
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:08
::shrugs:: Beats me. Maybe it's cause I was born out the US. ::shakes fist:: Damn army!
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:09
europeans expect us to follow the beliefs of these celebrities but we don't.

Oooh. Yeah, but a lot of us do. We're a very entertainment based country- nobody can deny that. And we are very Puritanical at times.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:10
What's so immoral about porn? Id rather someone jackoff than rape a person out of frustration or pure lust. It is a positive way a human being to get thier uumm urges out.
it depends.
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:11
What's so immoral about porn? Id rather someone jackoff than rape a person out of frustration or pure lust. It is a positive way a human being to get thier uumm urges out.

Rape is never about lust- it's about control. But don't let anyone tell you that porn is immoral. It isn't- sex is not immoral, and neither is porn. It's ridiculous that people can make such claims. Porn is fine, people! Unless it's got underage kids or sheep- then we can get into the morality issue. If it's just got a few naked people doing what they do, that's fine.
Whittier-
24-07-2004, 22:13
Rape is never about lust- it's about control. But don't let anyone tell you that porn is immoral. It isn't- sex is not immoral, and neither is porn. It's ridiculous that people can make such claims. Porn is fine, people! Unless it's got underage kids or sheep- then we can get into the morality issue. If it's just got a few naked people doing what they do, that's fine.
It is immoral depending on your religion. But it is protected free speech.
Beachwalla
24-07-2004, 22:16
Don't let religion keep you from a little harmless self-petting. God's cool with it- why do you think he gave us hands with arms long enough to reach down there? Anyway, he told me he was cool with it at this party I threw once. He's a nice enough guy. No beard though, which is odd because I expected God to have a beard. He keeps it pretty clean shaven.
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 22:24
Yeah that nigga owes me 20 dollars!
Melcelene
24-07-2004, 22:33
only 44% of americans attend church regularly

http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/Releases/1997/Dec97/r121097a.html

2004 stats for US of A:
0.3% Atheists 83% christians.
http://religionstatistics.bravehost.com/statamer1.htm

I don't think you have to go to church regulary to go to heaven *waits for world to end* I think if you believe in god, pray, and are a good person you will go to heaven.
Polish Warriors
24-07-2004, 22:39
Well said sir!