Pensives & Ruminations

More Than 90 Percent of Americans Believe in God, Study Finds
Wow, I thought. That is very different than most studies I have read. So I decided to read the report, something the folks at WaPo apparantly did not feel necessary.

I think the survey summary and the mainstream media need some statistics help.

Here is the first question about god that bugs me:

“Do you believe in God or a universal spirit? [IF YES, ASK]: How certain are you about this belief? Are you absolutely certain, fairly certain, not too certain, or not at all certain?”

Based on that vague question, only 72% of people were “Absolutely Certain”. That number also included some 8% of Atheists who were “Absolutely Certain”.

If you are an Atheist, how can you be Absolutely Certain there is God or a universal Spirit?  I think perhaps some people did not understand the question.

Also, the next question is even more revealing:

“Do you believe in God or a universal spirit? [IF YES, ASK]: Which comes closest to your view of God? God is a person with whom people can have a relationship or God is an impersonal force?”

Based on that question, only 60% believe in a personal God. If you throw out the “Absolutely Certain” atheists and agnostics (because neither of those can be Absolutely Certain), you drop the total even more.

What the headline could have said was “Nearly 1/3 of Americans not sure if there is any god.” or, “Only 58% of Americans do believe in a personal god.”

The whole survey is 276 pages and I have not finished it. Going to do some more digging and update later.

Meanwhile, lets remember the real message of this poll:

“Over 40% of Americans do not belive in God”