Survey: Most US Christians define own beliefs

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Christian Science Monitor

American individualism has made its imprint on Christianity.

A sizable majority of the country's faithful no longer hew closely to orthodox teachings, and look more to themselves than to churches or denominations to define their religious convictions, according to two recent surveys. More than half of all Christians also believe that some non-Christians can get into heaven.

"Growing numbers of people now serve as their own theologian-in-residence," said George Barna, president of Barna Group, on releasing findings of one of the polls on Jan. 12.

In the Barna survey, 71 percent of American adults say they are more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a defined set of teachings from a particular church. Even among born-again Christians, 61 percent pick and choose from the beliefs of different denominations. For people under the age of 25, the number rises to 82 percent.

Many "cafeteria Christians" go beyond the teachings of Christian denominations to embrace parts of other world religions.

Half of Americans also believe that Christianity is now just one of many faith options people can choose from (44 percent disagree with that perception). Residents of the Northeast and West were more likely than those in the South and Midwest to say Christianity has lost its status as the favored American religion.

Christians expressed a variety of unorthodox beliefs in the poll. Nearly half of those interviewed do not believe in the existence of Satan, one-third believe Jesus sinned while on earth, and two-fifths say they don't have a responsibility to share their faith with others.

The most striking divergence from orthodoxy, however, was first revealed in the 2007 US Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. That comprehensive survey of 35,000 Americans found a majority of Christians saying that people of other religions can find salvation and eternal life.

The results stirred controversy among some Christian leaders for whom Jesus as the only path to salvation is a paramount teaching. Some questioned whether those surveyed about "other religions" might have been thinking of Christian denominations or traditions - such as Protestants referring to Roman Catholicism - rather than non-Christian faiths.

Pew undertook a follow-up survey, which it released in late December. That poll found 65 percent of American Christians (including 47 percent of Evangelicals) do indeed think that many different religions can lead to eternal life. Among these Christians, 80 percent cited one non-Christian faith as a route to salvation; 61 percent named two or more.

The survey also asked about views on how one obtains eternal life. Among all adults with a religious affiliation, 30 percent say correct beliefs are what counts, 29 percent say salvation depends on one's actions during life, while 10 percent say both are essential. Those who emphasize the impact of actions are more inclined to believe that practitioners of non-Christian faiths can achieve eternal life. Most of those who emphasize beliefs say non-Christian paths do not lead to heaven.

The poll confirms a broad rejection of religious exclusivity. Among all religious adults interviewed, 65 percent say many religions lead to eternal life and only 29 percent say theirs is the one true faith. Sixty-nine percent of all non-Jews say Judaism can lead to eternal life and 52 percent of non-Muslims say that of Islam.

Forty-two percent of religious Americans also say atheists are able to find eternal life.

While some people hail these findings as heartening for American pluralism, others see them as a wake-up call. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes on his blog about biblical Christianity's role in countering such inclusive views and helping people find the true Christian way. Others point to the power of egalitarian American culture.

"It's just part of a 200-year working out of ideas about personal autonomy and equality that are sort of built into the American experience," says Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. "The notion that someone is going to burn in hell because they have their own beliefs is just not resonant within our larger political ideals."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...ogy0113-ON.html

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

Christian Science Monitor

American individualism has made its imprint on Christianity.

A sizable majority of the country's faithful no longer hew closely to orthodox teachings, and look more to themselves than to churches or denominations to define their religious convictions, according to two recent surveys. More than half of all Christians also believe that some non-Christians can get into heaven.

"Growing numbers of people now serve as their own theologian-in-residence," said George Barna, president of Barna Group, on releasing findings of one of the polls on Jan. 12.

In the Barna survey, 71 percent of American adults say they are more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a defined set of teachings from a particular church. Even among born-again Christians, 61 percent pick and choose from the beliefs of different denominations. For people under the age of 25, the number rises to 82 percent.

Many "cafeteria Christians" go beyond the teachings of Christian denominations to embrace parts of other world religions.

Half of Americans also believe that Christianity is now just one of many faith options people can choose from (44 percent disagree with that perception). Residents of the Northeast and West were more likely than those in the South and Midwest to say Christianity has lost its status as the favored American religion.

Christians expressed a variety of unorthodox beliefs in the poll. Nearly half of those interviewed do not believe in the existence of Satan, one-third believe Jesus sinned while on earth, and two-fifths say they don't have a responsibility to share their faith with others.

The most striking divergence from orthodoxy, however, was first revealed in the 2007 US Religious Landscape Survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. That comprehensive survey of 35,000 Americans found a majority of Christians saying that people of other religions can find salvation and eternal life.

The results stirred controversy among some Christian leaders for whom Jesus as the only path to salvation is a paramount teaching. Some questioned whether those surveyed about "other religions" might have been thinking of Christian denominations or traditions - such as Protestants referring to Roman Catholicism - rather than non-Christian faiths.

Pew undertook a follow-up survey, which it released in late December. That poll found 65 percent of American Christians (including 47 percent of Evangelicals) do indeed think that many different religions can lead to eternal life. Among these Christians, 80 percent cited one non-Christian faith as a route to salvation; 61 percent named two or more.

The survey also asked about views on how one obtains eternal life. Among all adults with a religious affiliation, 30 percent say correct beliefs are what counts, 29 percent say salvation depends on one's actions during life, while 10 percent say both are essential. Those who emphasize the impact of actions are more inclined to believe that practitioners of non-Christian faiths can achieve eternal life. Most of those who emphasize beliefs say non-Christian paths do not lead to heaven.

The poll confirms a broad rejection of religious exclusivity. Among all religious adults interviewed, 65 percent say many religions lead to eternal life and only 29 percent say theirs is the one true faith. Sixty-nine percent of all non-Jews say Judaism can lead to eternal life and 52 percent of non-Muslims say that of Islam.

Forty-two percent of religious Americans also say atheists are able to find eternal life.

While some people hail these findings as heartening for American pluralism, others see them as a wake-up call. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary writes on his blog about biblical Christianity's role in countering such inclusive views and helping people find the true Christian way. Others point to the power of egalitarian American culture.

"It's just part of a 200-year working out of ideas about personal autonomy and equality that are sort of built into the American experience," says Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. "The notion that someone is going to burn in hell because they have their own beliefs is just not resonant within our larger political ideals."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200...ogy0113-ON.html

Yep. Works for me. If the God speaks to the preacher on TV, then why wouldn't He talk to me!

-- Bullwinkle

[mox 298]

It always amazes me how many ways human beings can re-invent the magical invisible man in the sky to suit their own tastes. One day religion will finally be cast into the same light as tarot, Ouija boards, witchcraft, crystal healing, nature worship, and all the other mythology humans should have wasted their time with. Wish I could be around to see it, but I think we've got at least another half millennium of this silliness to stumble through before religion is finally and soundly rejected.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

This thread, according to my beliefs, will degenerate soon.

[mox 298]

No way. This thread will de-evolve soon, proving science right.

[The_Dude 1,142]

It always amazes me how many ways human beings can re-invent the magical invisible man in the sky to suit their own tastes. One day religion will finally be cast into the same light as tarot, Ouija boards, witchcraft, crystal healing, nature worship, and all the other mythology humans should have wasted their time with. Wish I could be around to see it, but I think we've got at least another half millennium of this silliness to stumble through before religion is finally and soundly rejected.

Blasphemy!!! Repent!!! For the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a vengeful god!!!

In all seriousness, I think its a good thing that people are sort of redefining religion to adhere to more modern norms. When I first learned about evolution, and went to my parents and asked them how this conflicted with the bible, they kind of changed things around on the fly. They told me that we were indeed decended from apes, but that Adam and Eve were the first to take full human form. Yes, I know it's completely incongruent with religious theology, but at that age, I was very curious about science, and they didn't want me to completely turn off of relgion, so I at least humored them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It always amazes me how many ways human beings can re-invent the magical invisible man in the sky to suit their own tastes. One day religion will finally be cast into the same light as tarot, Ouija boards, witchcraft, crystal healing, nature worship, and all the other mythology humans should have wasted their time with. Wish I could be around to see it, but I think we've got at least another half millennium of this silliness to stumble through before religion is finally and soundly rejected.

Never in a million years, mox. Many of the greatest thinkers throughout history have grappled with the concept of a god and many of them believed.

[Amby 490]

Just say your hail mary's and you're going to heaven

[mox 298]

Blasphemy!!! Repent!!! For the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a vengeful god!!!

There's no such thing as spaghetti.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

Christian Science Monitor

More than half of all Christians also believe that some non-Christians can get into heaven.

"

This is the most debated religious subject in my family. I was just talking to a friend of mine at work, I dropped that one on her and her whole demeanor changed. "The only way to heaven is accepting Jesus in your heart", and this gem.."your actions dont get you into heaven, only accepting Jesus"

It's a pill I cant swallow, sorry.

[pedroh 21]

as Call Naughton Jr would say

I like to think of Jesus in a Tuxedo T-Shirt. Because then it's like, I'm formal, but I came to party

[Peikko 1,575]

I agree with Mox - although, I anticipate that some people will believe in god even when there is overwhelming evidence that god is unnecessary for the universe to work just fine.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree with Mox - although, I anticipate that some people will believe in god even when there is overwhelming evidence that god is unnecessary for the universe to work just fine.

That's just it, Purple - as ridiculous as it may seem to atheists - to believe in a god, to believe that a god doesn't exist is on equal ground. That's the conundrum.

Edited January 14, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[mox 298]

Actually, it's when you stop believing in a god that things start to make sense. Because you no longer have to wrestle with this idea of a loving god who allows genocide or disease or even the common cold. You don't have to "put your faith" into an invisible man's hands, and you start to make your own way in the world. You stop asking the invisible man for help, and you start looking inside yourself and to your friends and family. And most importantly, you live your life to the fullest, knowing full well that this is all there is and you've only got one shot, so make it count.

[Peikko 1,575]

Conundrum all you wish Mr Pants, and that is surely your right. I am quite content with my examination of the evidence, and conclusion that life is what we make of it, no more, no less. There is nothing to come afterward - my body and mind will decay and its components will become a part of something else. There is no 'grand design' no 'meaning' to our existence - and we need none. There is nothing to stop man from behaving humanely, and man has everything to gain and nothing to lose from doing so. Taking care of oneself, one's family and one's society is the only logical way to behave.