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THE HARRIS POLL #52, September 13, 2000
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE LARGE MAJORITIES WHO BELIEVE IN
GOD, HEAVEN, THE RESURRECTION, SURVIVAL OF SOUL, MIRACLES AND VIRGIN BIRTH
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Over 70% also believe in
the devil and hell.
Surprisingly large numbers (over 40%) of non-Christians say they believe
in the resurrection and virgin birth of Jesus, while some Christians do
not
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___________________________________________________________
by Humphrey Taylor
America continues to be one of the world’s most religious
countries. The overwhelming majority of adult Americans believe in God (94%),
heaven (89%), the resurrection of Christ (86%), the survival of the soul after
death (86%), miracles (85%) and the virgin birth of Jesus (82%). Surveys in
European countries have usually found far larger numbers of people who do not
believe in God (and who probably do not believe in heaven, the soul or
Christianity). Furthermore, there is no sign that America is becoming either a
more, or less, religious country as measured by its beliefs. The numbers who
hold these beliefs have not changed significantly since similar questions were
asked in 1994 and 1998.
These are some of the findings of a Harris Poll of 1,010
adults surveyed by telephone between August 10 and August 14, 2000.
The Harris Poll also finds that large majorities believe in
the devil (72%) and hell (73%), but that far fewer people – but still many –
believing in astrology (41%), ghosts (39%) and reincarnation (20%).
While many Americans have applauded the selection of an
observant Jew, Joe Lieberman, as the Democratic vice presidential candidate,
four out of five (81%) adults describe themselves as Christians. And American
optimism is reflected in the 75% of all adults who believe they will go to
heaven and the very few who believe they will go to hell (1%) or purgatory (6%).
Perhaps the most surprising numbers in this survey emerge from
the analysis of the replies of self-described Christians and non-Christians. A
few Christians do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus (3%) or the survival
of the soul after death (6%). But the strangest results are the numbers of
people who say they are not Christians but who believe in the resurrection (42%)
and the virgin birth of Jesus (43%). What kind of non-Christians are these?
While we do not have comparable survey data from other
countries, this survey leaves no doubt that Americans are, by the standards of
most other Western industrial countries, remarkably religious, and that this
religiosity shows no sign of eroding.
Humphrey Taylor is the Chairman of The Harris Poll.
TABLE 1
BELIEF IN GOD, AND OTHER SUPERNATURAL FORCES,
PLACES AND EVENTS
"I will read you a list of things some
people believe in. Please say for each one if you believe in it, or not."
|
|
ALL ADULTS |
| |
1994
% |
1998
% |
Now
% |
|
God |
95 |
94 |
94 |
|
Heaven |
90 |
89 |
89 |
|
The resurrection of Christ |
87 |
88 |
86 |
|
Survival of the soul after death |
84 |
84 |
86 |
|
Miracles |
81 |
86 |
85 |
|
The Virgin birth (Jesus born of Mary) |
78 |
83 |
82 |
|
The devil |
72 |
73 |
72 |
|
Hell |
71 |
73 |
73 |
|
Astrology |
37 |
37 |
41 |
|
Ghosts |
36 |
35 |
39 |
|
Reincarnation (that you were once another
person |
N/A |
23 |
20 |
| |
|
|
|
TABLE 2
SELF-DESCRIBED AS CHRISTIANS
"Would you describe yourself as a Christian
or not?"
| |
1998
% |
Now
% |
|
Described self as Christian |
83 |
81 |
|
Not a Christian |
16 |
17 |
|
Don’t know/Refused |
1 |
2 |
TABLE 3
WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN YOU DIE?
"When you die where do you think you will go
– heaven, hell, purgatory or somewhere else?"
| |
1998
% |
Now
% |
|
Heaven |
76 |
75 |
|
Hell |
2 |
1 |
|
Purgatory |
4 |
6 |
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Somewhere else |
12 |
11 |
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Don’t know/Refused |
6 |
7 |
TABLE 4
BELIEFS – CHRISTIANS VS. NON-CHRISTIANS
| |
All Adults
% |
Christian
% |
Non-Christian
% |
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Believe in: |
|
|
|
|
God |
94 |
99 |
72 |
|
Heaven |
89 |
95 |
59 |
|
The resurrection of Christ |
86 |
95 |
42 |
|
Survival of the soul after death |
86 |
90 |
65 |
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Miracles |
85 |
91 |
61 |
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The Virgin birth (Jesus born of Mary) |
82 |
91 |
43 |
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The devil |
72 |
80 |
38 |
|
Hell |
73 |
81 |
38 |
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Astrology |
41 |
40 |
48 |
|
Ghosts |
39 |
39 |
38 |
|
Reincarnation |
20 |
19 |
26 |
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted by telephone
within the United States between August 10 – August 14, 2000, among a
nationwide cross section of 1,010 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education,
number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were
weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions
in the population.
In theory, with a sample of this size, one can
say with 95 percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of
plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult
population had been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are
several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are
probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They
include refusals to be interviewed (non-response), question wording and question
order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening
(e.g., for likely voters). It is difficult or impossible to quantify the errors
that may result from these factors.
These statements conform to
the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
____________________________________________________________
12851
Q505, 510, 515
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