From some of the answers on here, I am wondering... Do most Americans believe in God?

Question

I always thought I lived in a Christian Country. There are always other beliefs, but I had the idea that people were basically good.

Answer 1

Granny.. This section of Yahoo Q&A and the internet in general attracts atheist and liberals more so then other groups of people.  If you go the the politics room in the day time there are more conservatives and God fearing folk there. Some of them not as extreme or fundie types like myself but it's definitely much more slanted towards those who believe in God.. But yes in society in general atheism and humanism is on the rise . It's what is being pushed everywhere you look and go now a days, Universities, TV, so on. So it would only make sense that it would eventually take hold in the weak minded and those who are lost and searching for truth....To answer your quesiton above... Although statistics show 70% of americans believe in God I believe the number is actually a little lower. Many professing Christians don't really know what they believe and I would suspect are in reality agnostics.. I say this based on what I see and I get around quite a bit being a long distance trucker.. Hope this helped..God bless you !

Answer 2

Not being Christian doesn't make a person bad. I am a good person, and I can say that with confidence. At the same time, I am not a Christian. Christianity is one of the most prominent religions in the U.S, and many laws are based on Christianity, which I personally disagree with (g*y marriage being illegal, anyone?) Everyone should have a right to their own beliefs as long as they don't hurt other people.

Answer 3

some stats on who makes up the majority of the prison population,

Judeo-Christian Total  83.761%

Atheist Total 0.21%

Note that atheists, being a moderate proportion of the USA population (about 8-16%) are disproportionately less in the prison populations (0.21%).

Answer 4

Most Americans do believe in God, and basically people in general are basically good. Unfortunately, one person doing evil seems to overshadow alot of good people doing good. I cannot believe how defensive some of these answers are, assuming that you ment if people were not Christian that they were bad. You must have hit a nerve.

Answer 5

Americans are too scared to die.

Answer 6

Most americans do, yes. I'd say about 80-85% do. Personally, I do not believe in any gods. But that does not mean i'm any less of a good person.

Answer 7

what-ever happened to freedom of religion?  a christian country?  is that anything like a jewish country or a wiccan country?  people ARE basically good.  however organized religion is designed to separate people.  if we could learn to keep religion personal and out of the government  we would indeed be freer.

Answer 8

A majority of Americans profess a belief in 'god'. However, they are split into thousands of different sects, all believing that they, and only they, have the ear of god and tickets to heaven. Unfortunately, most of them behave like savages, and throw the idea of their religion around as a weapon. I am not part of them because I don't believe in a god for which there is neither evidence nor proof, and because after seeing the way most 'christians' behave, I want no part of them.

Answer 9

Here we go again.  

Christian = good

Everything else = Bad

Get your head out of your butt and look around you.  There are people of every imaginable faith and belief all around you, in the internet world and in your hometown.  Do you feel good about bashing everyone different from you?

Answer 10

People are born good, but some with simple minds.

It is unfortunate many people like myself   have lost faith in organized religion.

There are to many conflicts between the organizations. I read a while back that many Christians (like myself) have a personal relationship with God, but are pulling away from the traditional church.

I don’t remember where I read that, but I have read it more than once over the past few years.

It could be a bad thing, if some radical organizations become too strong,  due to blind followers pumping money into the radical organization.

Statistics: http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

The link is only one of many on the net.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in the world believed in the love and passion of God and not in their on gain?

Answer 11

I too am shocked at the things people say and do. I let it worry me for a long time..Some people will never know of God' wonderful love. that's the sad part.And God will and can save any one that ask him. But ,they have to ask. the Bible says h**l has to keep enlarging itself. so that's tell me more and more are unbelievers. But, we all have a choice to whom we will serve. I choose God. and I have never been sorry.

Answer 12

Yes, most do. But believing in a deity does not necessarily make you good.

Answer 13

The majority is, yes.

Answer 14

The US is NOT a christian nation...so right off the bat your wrong

16% to 20% of Americans consider themselves non-religious [atheist/agnostic]

Answer 15

See, it's comments like that that get good non-Christian people ticked off enough to slap you. I don't blame them, you deserve one.

Answer 16

Yes - unfortunately most people are easily fooled.  We're probably not a species which is going to make it much longer.

Answer 17

Well, Granny, many Americans have forgotten, or because of our present school system, have never been taught the reason they are enjoying the life they have here. This country was built on The Bible. Period. For many years the first book used in school was The New England Primer. In first grade over half the day was spent in The Bible. The questions in that little book couldn't be answered today by the majority of seniors. Sad, don't you think. Imagine a society that taught killing, stealing, cheating, and sexual acts outside of matramony were wrong. The immorality in this country did not start to rapidly decay until the mid 60's, when The Supreme Court made an unconstitutional ruling, changing the definition of"church". Unfortunatly we've never looked back since. We've become so self-centered, a "me,I" society,. When we first became a nation, the courts used The Bible for reference and precedence. Imagine that! We are so lost as a nation.  Corrupt companies made millions, and never reinvested in any infrastructure, and everyone wonders why everything is now made in China. Politicans, union bosses, investors,etc., have stolen and bled this country into bankrupcy, we just haven't been told yet. Regardless of what science is continually proving to be fact, the schools still push evolution down the throats of our children. Point blank proven false, yet they continue. But in Ca., they have to redo textbooks to accommadate same s*x relationships, immediately. Yes Granny, we USED to be a Christian nation. And when things get really bad, we'll blame God, yet His Word tells us all we need to know. He holds His Word above His Name, and the wages of sin are death. "My people perish for lack of knowledge". It's in The Word.

Answer 18

I'm bad because I'm not a Christian?

The thing is people have the RIGHT to believe in what they want to believe. Why should we be forced to beleive things that arent proven?

-Witch

Answer 19

Good means not forcing your religion onto others. Actually, the latest polls show a large decline in people believing in gods. About 30% either don't believe, or aren't sure.

--Atheist.

Answer 20

Guess what? I am a good person. I don't steal, cheat, murder, commit adultery, lie, etc...and I am not a Christian.

America is about 80% Christian, but the rest of us aren't necessarily evil.

Answer 21

All religions teach hate and intolerance. Atheism is the truth.

Answer 22

You don't live in a Christian country, your government is secular. Well, so they say...

Answer 23

Yea for sure most Americans believe in God. And as a side note, there is no such thing as good and bad people, everyone is just as sinful.

Answer 24

Yes, most Americans believe in a god or gods.  And a clear majority of our population is Christian.

No, you don't live in a Christian country, strictly speaking.  You live in a secular country with a Christian population.  It's a technical difference, but a very important one.  A Christian country (i.e., one with a government run by a sect of Christianity) would be an oppressive place, and you probably wouldn't want to live here, unless you belonged to the particular sect in charge.  A government of, by, and for a Christian sect would likely outlaw other sects of Christianity, as well as other religions.  When Jefferson said that freedom of religion is also freedom from religion, that's what he meant--having freedom of religion also means you don't have to belong to the Catholic Church if they're in charge, or the Baptists if they're in charge, etc.  But I digress.

The last sentence is a bit confusing.  Are you suggesting that members of other religions aren't good people?

Answer 25

Some times I wonder that myself.  People seem to think that church and state should be separate.  They have taken God out of the schools, now they have guns.  I think God should be invited back into our schools and into our government.  Our leaders need God to guide them.

Answer 26

No one is good; that's why Jesus had to die on the cross to pay for our sins.  He alone is good.  He is everything and He is the meaning of love.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life."  

Answer 27

Do you equate believing in gods with being good?

Answer 28

I agree w/ you that people are basically good but that does not have anything to do w/ being Christian.

Statistically most Americans do say they believe in God but America is not a Christian country and never has been. We are a pluralistic society. There is no official religion.

Answer 29

People are basically people.. with equal amounts of good and bad within us all. It's not about what you believe, it's about how you act. Anyone can be good if that is the part of themselves they nurture, anyone can be bad if that is the part they nurture instead.. so with or without god/s people will remain people, capable of either great good or great evil..

There is good in everyone, there is bad in everyone.. it just depends what path you choose. If you'd like to believe an entity resides behind that dichotomy be my guest. As long as you turn from darkness to the light it matters not what road you take to get there.. religion, atheism, agnosticism.. it can all lead to good... or bad..  

Answer 30

wth are u implying? Did u just imply that to be good is to be christian? unless thats what u meant, u should rephrase that cause i find it very offensive considering im an atheist AND a good person.

anyway, yes most americans are christian and even more believe in God in general.

Answer 31

Yes, the majority of Americans believe in God.  The ignorant fundies are a small minority.