Your suspicions are correct

[TomboyMom]

Did you suspect that everyone around you is a superstitious theist? You're right.
According to a recent Harris poll, 90% of Americans believe in god. 80% believe in the resurrection of christ.
Some sidelights: 31% believe in astrology, 27% in reincarnation.

For complete poll results, go to http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=359

Rene

[Godless Dave]

I think we American citizens have three possible courses of action:

1. Live with it and hope for the best.

2. Try to educate and enlighten our fellow citizens.

3. Exploit their gullibility for cash.

I've been pursuing option #2, but #3 looks more attractive every day.

[Heathen Dawn]

Originally posted by Godless Dave
1. Live with it and hope for the best.


Nope. Those things tend to get worse and worse.


2. Try to educate and enlighten our fellow citizens.


If only, if only... it's like an uphill battle. I believe it's the right course of action, but it takes such a long time to be effective. What's the secret of success in Europe? How are Britain and Sweden, in contrast to the USA, such irreligious nations?


3. Exploit their gullibility for cash.


Planning to be a priest?

[TomboyMom]

How are Britain and Sweden, in contrast to the USA, such irreligious nations?
This is an interesting question. One idea I have heard is that modern western nations that have a state church, that is, where there is not separation of church and state, have a lower percentage of religious affiliation than in the U.S., where state sponsored religion is unconstitutional (whatever Roy Moore may think.)

Rene

[Queen of Swords]

Originally posted by Heathen Dawn
Planning to be a priest?

No, that would be "Exploit their gullibility for sex."

[Godless Dave]

Originally posted by Heathen Dawn

Planning to be a priest?

I think I'd make a good Protestant minister, but no. I was more thinking about selling crystals online or projecting a blurry picture of Mary on my front window and charging for parking.

[Postcard73]

Actually, I think there's a very simple answer to why America is so much more religious than Europe: all the religious zealots, fanatics, and misfits left Europe to come here! I read that suggestion in a thread on these boards a few weeks ago, and I think there may be some truth to it...

[three4jump]

I think it would be more accurate to say that 90% of Americans say they believe in God, when asked. I would bet that less than 50% really believe, and that most people just say they believe in order to fit in and go with the flow. It is socially unacceptable to say you don't believe. I think there will be a tipping point when someone finds a way to say he doesn't believe that is socially acceptable. Then the majority will say, "Well, I didn't really believe--I just wanted to go along with the group." That's what society is, mainly: going along with the group. Exactly what will trigger the tipping point, or when, I couldn't say.

[Carlos]

Originally posted by Heathen Dawn
What's the secret of success in Europe? How are Britain and Sweden, in contrast to the USA, such irreligious nations?

Some ideas:

They've been around longer. They had similar periods of "religious fervor." The popular appeal of religion was once strong and at some point it began to wane. I'd argue that the same is happening in the USA, but it will take a long time for religion to become as irrelevant as it is in Europe.

Generally speaking, Americans are less willing to question authority (of any sort, not just religious). Consider the war in Iraq and contrast the gradual decline in popular support for Bush in the USA to the more abrupt drop seen by Blair in Britain (relevant Harris Interactive poll (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=396)).

I wonder if the origin of the country has anything to do with this. Americans place a high value on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and so on. They are treated much the same way the Bible is by Christians. There are a variety of interpretations - strict interpretation is similar to fundamentalism, loose interpretation is akin to liberal Christianity. But to suggest that the Founding Fathers' sacred edicts are in some way incorrect is tantamount to sacrilege (or atheism). Ever try to argue that the Electoral College is a stupid idea? Aargh.

It bugs me how often arguments (on anything, not just religion) are based on interpretations of the Constitution. It's as if right and wrong had been codified 200+ years ago and the Constitution is the secret decoder ring. Aaaargh.

[Citrusponge]

According to the results tables, only 99% of Christians believe in God :confused: It's possible to be a non-theist Christian?

[Kalkin]

Another thing that makes me think Dave's option 2 is hopeless:

90% of Americans believe in god

31% believe in astrology

So, a minimum of 20% of Americans believe in both God and astrology? Those two are kind of mutually exclusive - God and the stars can't both be determining our fates... these people are obviously not capable of logical thought.:(

[chanoc]

In my town, I am something like .00000099% of the population, being an Atheist. Being in the minority has never been so hip! :D

[Per]

Originally posted by Postcard73
Actually, I think there's a very simple answer to why America is so much more religious than Europe: all the religious zealots, fanatics, and misfits left Europe to come here!

I don't know... We certainly have a vide variety of zealots too; JWs, Mormons, Scientologists, etc etc.

I'm probably wrong, but perhaps the difference between US/Europe in religiousity is somehow linked to the difference in politics. Mainstream US politics is more to the right than mainstream European politics.

Although I have no numbers to back this up, I think that the youth revolution of the late 60's and early 70's has had a larger left steering impact on attitudes toward religion and politics in the mainstream in Europe than it had in the US. Why this would be the case I don't know. But I suspect that if one finds the answer as to why the US is more rightwing/conservative/reactionary in politics one will know why religion is bigger there than in Europe.

Don't know if this is making any sense at all...

[Alonzo Fyfe]

Originally posted by Citrusponge
According to the results tables, only 99% of Christians believe in God :confused: It's possible to be a non-theist Christian?

Actually, I have met atheist Christians, who consider Jesus to be a mortal philosopher. Being a "Christian" in this sense would be much like being a Marxist or a Jeffersonian. And, yes, Christ did get a lot of the god stuff wrong, but what do you expect from somebody growing up in such a primative society?

Saying that they make up 1% of all Christians, however, seems wildly optimistic.

[Alonzo Fyfe]

Originally posted by Heathen Dawn
If only, if only... it's like an uphill battle. I believe it's the right course of action, but it takes such a long time to be effective. What's the secret of success in Europe? How are Britain and Sweden, in contrast to the USA, such irreligious nations?


I believe that, a major cause of this:

In Europe, they do not have a First Amendment and so they debate religion, its role in the state, and such issues on their merits.

Here, we debate the separation of church and state as a matter of law, and leave the question of religion alone. Law has little to do with merit, and much more to do with tradition.

(Thus, while we get into quote wars about what the Founding Fathers believed and did not believe, Europeans have been getting into discussions about whether it is reasonable to believe in God and to base a national policy on such principles.)

The 'merit' arguments are more potent.

[Arkus 02]

*considers jumping a train to europe*

[RalphyS]

Yesterday I saw a documentary about the USA on German TV, I don't remember the exact title, but it was something like "USA, country on a mission" and it made sense a lot (at least to me).

At one point in the documentarty someone stated that ever since the USA was founded the people found themselves and their views somewhat superior to the rest of the world, at first they moved to America to find religious freedom, later they established the first democracy and ultimately they've become the current superpower both economically as military.

When I heard it, it got me thinking and somehow whenever I hear Dubya speaking I hear the mission in him, how he thinks the US-values are superior to others and need to be spread over the world (in fact Condoleeza Rice even stated something to that affect in the documentary) and if you watched the interviews with rural Americans (Texans) you can read between the lines how they feel that the America is the chosen country, blessed by God.

I think that feeling of superiority needs a base in religion, who else but a divine being could make one country's views better than anothers. In this respect the majority of Americans remind me a bit of ultra-orthodox jews, who also believe to be the chosen people of God, the difference being that they don't believe in spreading their word around.

What scares me to death about this is that you cannot argue the merits of something, if someone truly believes that the path he is on is a divine mission.


Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love. Butch Hancock

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. Steven Weinberg (1933 - ), quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999

[Aravnah Ornan]

Here's an irony. Religion has obviously done exceedingly well under a constitutional mandate to privatize it. Yet many conservatives demand that it be socialized.

[Calzaer]

Yeah, and a big "screw y'all" right back atcha. :mad:

[openeyes]

Originally posted by Godless Dave

3. Exploit their gullibility for cash.

I've been pursuing option #2, but #3 looks more attractive every day. I've had more than one conversation with fellow atheists trying to figure out how we could become "Rapture" insurance salespeople. :D

[Shake]

This poll and its results have been posted several times here in other threads, but that's OK. It gives me yet another chance to pull out this very interesting tidbit from the poll results:one percent of Christians do not believe in God:confused: WTFO?

Who are these Christians?

[Godless Dave]

My gf refers to herself as a "cultural Christian", even though she's an agnostic.

[Mendeh]

The figures TomboyMom posted:

According to a recent Harris poll, 90% of Americans believe in god. 80% believe in the resurrection of christ.
Some sidelights: 31% believe in astrology, 27% in reincarnation.


If 80% believe in the resurrection of Christ, and 27% believe in reincarnation, that means at least 7% of people in America describe themselves as both Christian and believing in reincarnation.

Sounds like a fair wedge of the American population are playing spiritual pick 'n' mix.

[captainpabst]

It's possible to be a non-theist Christian?
Who are these Christians?
People like John Spong.

I agree with three4jump; I don't think the results are totally accurate. There's a dichotomy between what people say and what they believe. Also, the multiple choice or short answers you're allowed to give in those polls can't really capture one's entire view on the matter.

Sounds like a fair wedge of the American population are playing spiritual pick 'n' mix.
Definitely.

[xorbie]

I consider myself Jewish, even though I don't believe in God. Cultural Jew sounds like a fitting title, actually. I have seen a lot of evidence that suggests that Jews are genetically closer to one another than to others living in the same area. They share a lot of cultural, if not religious activities. I do think that Judaism is somewhat of a race.

I dunno, it's not something I take seriously, but just wanted to make that point.

[Goober]

I guess the 1 percent is people who call themselves Christians because they turn up at church out of force of habit, but don't really believe.

Edited to add:

Wow, women scored significantly higher that men in every single catagory. There's a discussion related to this over here (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61655) :

Edit: link fix