Freethought & Rationalism Archive

crazyfingers · 03-03-2003, 07:29 AM

Poll

Quote:

* The 90% of adults who believe in God include 93% of women, 96% of
African-Americans and 93% of Republicans but only 86% of men, 85% of
those with postgraduate degrees, and 87% of political independents.
* The 84% of those who believe in the survival of the soul after death
include 89% of women but only 78% of men, 86% of those without a
college degree but only 78% of those with postgraduate degrees.
* The 84% of the public who believe in miracles falls to 72% among those
with postgraduate degrees, and rises to 90% among women and 90% among
African-Americans.
* The 82% who believe in heaven includes 89% of women but only 75% of men
and falls to 71% among people aged 25 to 29 and those with postgraduate
degrees.

On almost all the beliefs that are central to Christianity, there is a
general pattern with:

* Higher levels of belief among women than among men.
* Lower level of belief among people aged 25 to 29.
* Higher levels of belief among people with no college education and
lower levels of belief among those with postgraduate education.
* Higher levels of belief among African-Americans than among whites and
Hispanics.

philechat · 03-03-2003, 09:52 AM

Wow! Now I am very pessimistic about the mental states of an average American. The belief in say Heaven and Hell was still way high, oh my God, indicating the astronomical level of wishful thinking in this blessed (godforsaken?) country. Is this statistically accurate? Could there be a bias in geographical area, for example?
:boohoo:

Shake · 03-03-2003, 10:01 AM

This part I found quite interesting:

Quote:

One of the more intriguing findings is that not all people who call
themselves Christians believe all the conventional Christian beliefs. For
example, one percent of Christians do not believe in God, 8% do not believe in
the survival of the soul after death, 7% do not believe in miracles, 5% do not
believe in heaven, 7% do not believe in the Virgin birth and 18% do not
believe in hell.

... particularly that 1st statistic! I'd love to hear the views of that 1% and how they explain things!

Tufted · 03-03-2003, 10:14 AM

I find it interesting that 86% of blacks believe in heaven, but only 79% believe in the survival of the soul. Who populates heaven?

HumanisTim · 03-08-2003, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shake
This part I found quite interesting:... particularly that 1st statistic! I'd love to hear the views of that 1% and how they explain things!

My guess is one of a few things. 1. They misunderstood the question somehow. 2. What I would call Country Club Christians. Some one who uses the title of Christian, only because they see it as socially acceptable. There was also the 26% of non Christians who believe in the ressurection. I would guess that, they are Catholics who think of Christian as meaning protestant denmominations.

Miss Piggy · 03-08-2003, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tufted
I find it interesting that 86% of blacks believe in heaven, but only 79% believe in the survival of the soul. Who populates heaven?

Many (most?) people are not 100% consistent in their religious beliefs. Most people are not trained (or even interested) in philosophical and logical thinking.

sakrilege · 03-08-2003, 12:25 PM

I've always wondered why women (I'm one) and blacks are more religious since religion has always treated them more harshly. Is it a lack of self esteem?

cricket · 03-08-2003, 12:49 PM

I think girls grow up w/ added pressure to conform to societal norms. I grew up near Bible Belt, where boy heathens were treated like "boys will be boys" and girl heathens would have been treated "worse." JMO

JEST2ASK · 03-08-2003, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sakrilege
I've always wondered why women (I'm one) and blacks are more religious since religion has always treated them more harshly. Is it a lack of self esteem?

Generally considered "more" emotional and less interested in philosophical pursuits ......

Somewhat more seriously ... Historically Religion has a much more central role in African - American culture, providing an escape from oppresion ( the roots of which definately go back to slavery) ...

As for women Hey who can ever figure them out

cricket · 03-08-2003, 01:00 PM

In addition to "what would my teachers think" etc... I think many girls grow up dreaming of picket-fence churchy lifestyles.

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03-03-2003, 09:52 AM	#2
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	Wow! Now I am very pessimistic about the mental states of an average American. The belief in say Heaven and Hell was still way high, oh my God, indicating the astronomical level of wishful thinking in this blessed (godforsaken?) country. Is this statistically accurate? Could there be a bias in geographical area, for example? :boohoo:

03-03-2003, 10:14 AM	#4
Tufted Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Babylon, NY Posts: 106	I find it interesting that 86% of blacks believe in heaven, but only 79% believe in the survival of the soul. Who populates heaven?

03-08-2003, 12:25 PM	#7
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	I've always wondered why women (I'm one) and blacks are more religious since religion has always treated them more harshly. Is it a lack of self esteem?

03-08-2003, 12:49 PM	#8
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	I think girls grow up w/ added pressure to conform to societal norms. I grew up near Bible Belt, where boy heathens were treated like "boys will be boys" and girl heathens would have been treated "worse." JMO

03-08-2003, 01:00 PM	#10
cricket Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: St Louis MO USA Posts: 1,188	In addition to "what would my teachers think" etc... I think many girls grow up dreaming of picket-fence churchy lifestyles.

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