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Americans Fear Religion is Losing Influence in U.S. Pew Study Finds
According to a survey released September 22, 2014 by Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans think that religion is losing its influence on American society while only 22% believe that it is increasing its influence. Of these, 56% believe that this loss of influence is a "bad thing." Of the 22% who believe that religion is gaining influence, 12% say that it is a "good thing" while 10% say that it is not.
While most Americans oppose the idea of churches endorsing particular political candidates, they tend to support religious involvement in politics. According to poll results, in August 2010, 43% said churches should express their views on political and social questions but that number has increased to 49%. More Republicans (59%) than Democrats (42%) favor more involvement in political issues by churches.
The poll also found that only 30% of Americans believe that the Obama administration is friendly toward religion, a number that has decreased from 39% in 2012. The poll also found that the percentage of Americans who felt the administration was unfriendly toward religion increased from 23% to 29% in the same period.
The survey also found that 31% of the public thinks that evangelicals face discrimination, while 50% of evangelicals feel that they face discrimination. When asked whether they considered themselves to be members of religious minorities, 90% of Catholics said they did not while 30% of white evangelicals self-identified as minorities because of their religious beliefs.
This year, for the first time, Pew Research asked respondents whether they believed businesses that provide wedding services such as catering or flowers should be allowed to refuse services to same-sex couples for religious reasons. The respondents were split, with 47% responding that businesses should be allowed to refuse services and 49% saying they should be required to provide services to same-sex couples.
Survey results and methodology can be found on the Pew Research Center site at: http://www.pewforum.org/2014/09/22/public-sees-religions-influence-waning-2/
Photo credit: DepositPhotos
13 Comments
Mmm,though you do make some good points, the manner in which you present them seem biased to me. Also in your defense these are difficult statistics to present 'safely.'
Recently, I have done some research myself. In doing so, I have learned that:
"72% of Americans think that religion is losing its influence on American society while only 22% believe that it is increasing its influence. Of these, 56% believe that this loss of influence is a bad thing. Of the 22% who believe that religion is gaining influence, 12% say that it is a good thing while 10% say that it is not."
Only this into account, I believe that loss in religious influence is a good thing.
While religion is important to people personally, it should not be involved with the government. America is based on secularism, so the church and state should be separated. The establishment clause in the first amendment prohibits an established national church, so that every citizen has the freedom to choose any religion. That said, religion will always tend to influence certain laws or policies in government because it is the basis of people's values. Currently though, many people are using logic instead of religious beliefs, so I would agree that religion is losing its influence; but it is not necessarily a bad thing.
I agree with the opinion above, while religion is important to people personally, it should not be involved with the government. America is based on secularism, so the church and state should be separated. The establishment clause in the first amendment prohibits an established national church, so that every citizen has the freedom to choose any religion. That said, the streets will run red with the blood of the nonbelievers religion will always tend to influence certain laws or policies in government because it is the basis of peoples values. Currently though, many people are using logic instead of religious beliefs, so I would agree that religion is losing its influence; but it is not necessarily a bad thing.
I strongly disagree with your statement cause while religion may be important to people, it should be involved with the government. the church shouldn't be separated from the states cause if Jesus died for our sins then if you don't sin he died for nothing. the fact that religion always tends to influence certain laws just proves my point, showing that religion will keep its hold on the government.
I believe religion is used in politics in order to gain more votes from the public. If an idea favors a religious view they can automatically win over many people that have the same views. Just how it states that 30% believe that the Obama administration is friendly towards religion. Religion and politics should be separated in determining our government it should be based purely on what a candidate can offer. After all the government cannot impose a certain religion on the people.
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Religion was the base our country when it was first established, but as the years went by our nation become a secular country, which is the separation between the church and state. Politics and religion should not interfere with our decision because we live in a diverse country were hundreds of religions exist and we would never come to an agreement due to religion. When it comes to laws or policies, people should take into consideration what is best not if its part of the values of religion. Religion can influence certain laws, but it can get scaring when religion values control politics. Just because religion is losing its influence in government, it does not mean it is losing influence in America. Religion and government are not meant to mix according the establishment and free exercise clause.
Remember in history class when we learned about the middle ages where the church was the government of the land and they constantly campaigned so called "Holy" wars in an attempt to gain control of the "Holy" lands(aka invade other countries to get more land). It didn't end well so even after hundreds of years have passed and we live in the world of modern science and technology religion is STILL a major influence in our country's politics. True religion does not technically have any real authority however many freedoms such as abortion and gay marriage are constantly denied because of the influence of religion. If basic freedoms are being denied because of the influence of religion then it is clear that religion and government are not meant to be.
Remember in history class when we learned about the middle ages where the church was the government of the land and they constantly campaigned so called Holy wars in an attempt to gain control of the Holy lands(aka invade other countries to get more land). It didnt end well so even after hundreds of years have passed and we live in the world of modern science and technology religion is STILL a major influence in our countrys politics. True religion does not technically have any real authority however many freedoms such as abortion and gay marriage are constantly denied because of the influence of religion. If basic freedoms are being denied because of the influence of religion then it is clear that religion and government are not meant to be.
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Religion and government are independent of each other, religion is a personal hope and guidance. While the government is a federal working system the decisions the supreme court and the establishment of laws have been going since the forming of America. Religion at first was not officially stated that it influence politics, but it did then slowly faded away. Although modern days practice religion less frequently creating a moral approach to the law making system. This is rather good at some level because there shouldn't be a mixture of religion and government, but frightening because there are opposing viewpoints. When different people express there views that is when bandwagon starts and ethos, people start choosing a based on if their into social media. It is factious that America has become so ignorant to voting and hasn't taken a holistic approach on certain situations.
I have always viewed America as a secular nation growing up. Although religion may influence the government, legislation, and the rest of politics, it would not benefit the nation to be under one singular church. The diversity of the U.S. would make it quite impossible to unite countless ethnicities and religious point of views.
Religion should not be influenced in a government setting with the idea of seperation of church and state in mind. On this note the lost of religion in the realm of government will always be in place withing the many people that carry theier religious beliefs with them to make a decsion in their lives. Stating back to lost of religion it is not a harsh reality to believe this especially in a now more logic society where more factors come in to play with peoples lives. To end my thought i believe that in no way should religion play a role in government, but in the minds of those who vote and hold public office it is a belief to lay back on if belived needed for their sake and purpose.