10% of Protestants, 21% of Roman Catholics, and 52% of Jews do NOT believe in God.
That's the surprising word from a new survey by Harris Interactive of 2,306 adults that shows belief in God varies quite widely among different segments of the American public. How often do we go to a place of worship? Not much. Most people attend a religious service less than once a month. Still, Americans are far more likely to believe in God and to attend religious services than people in most other developed countries, particularly in Europe.
While 79% of Americans believe there is a God, only 66% are absolutely certain of it...9% do not believe in God, and 12% aren't sure. And weirdly, not everyone who calls himself/herself a Christian or a Jew actually believes in God.
Just over half (55%) attend a religious service a few times a year or more...36% attend once a month or more often, and just 26% say they attend every week...41% of women and 31% of men attend once a month or more. Protestants (47%) are more likely to go to church once a month or more often than are Roman Catholics (35%). Jews are least likely to go with 16% saying they go to a synagogue once a month or more.
Church attendance is highest in the Midwest and lowest in the West...82% of Midwesterners and Southerners believe in God, compared with 75% in the East and West. Our beliefs get stronger as we age. Of those 25 to 29 years old, 71% believe in God. That number jumps to 80% for people over 40, and hits 83% for those 65 and over.
Here are some other fascinating facts about who believes in God:
1. 84% of women believe in God, compared with 73% of men.
2. 91% of African-Americans believe in God, compared with 81% of Hispanics and 78% of whites.
3. 87% of Republicans believe in God, compared with 78% of Democrats and 75% of Independents.
4. 82% of those with no college education believe in God, compared with 73% who went to college.
www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=408
That's the surprising word from a new survey by Harris Interactive of 2,306 adults that shows belief in God varies quite widely among different segments of the American public. How often do we go to a place of worship? Not much. Most people attend a religious service less than once a month. Still, Americans are far more likely to believe in God and to attend religious services than people in most other developed countries, particularly in Europe.
While 79% of Americans believe there is a God, only 66% are absolutely certain of it...9% do not believe in God, and 12% aren't sure. And weirdly, not everyone who calls himself/herself a Christian or a Jew actually believes in God.
Just over half (55%) attend a religious service a few times a year or more...36% attend once a month or more often, and just 26% say they attend every week...41% of women and 31% of men attend once a month or more. Protestants (47%) are more likely to go to church once a month or more often than are Roman Catholics (35%). Jews are least likely to go with 16% saying they go to a synagogue once a month or more.
Church attendance is highest in the Midwest and lowest in the West...82% of Midwesterners and Southerners believe in God, compared with 75% in the East and West. Our beliefs get stronger as we age. Of those 25 to 29 years old, 71% believe in God. That number jumps to 80% for people over 40, and hits 83% for those 65 and over.
Here are some other fascinating facts about who believes in God:
1. 84% of women believe in God, compared with 73% of men.
2. 91% of African-Americans believe in God, compared with 81% of Hispanics and 78% of whites.
3. 87% of Republicans believe in God, compared with 78% of Democrats and 75% of Independents.
4. 82% of those with no college education believe in God, compared with 73% who went to college.
www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=408