mata

panera — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:49:14 -0500

wow, this amanda is really on your back...forget her, just in case she's riling your nerves like she is mine...

Hello again Amanda

Mata H — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:27:16 -0500

I am not certain what you feel I have gotten wrong about the study. Please help me understand what you see as an error.

I confess that I do favor the spiritual approach of those who are inclusive as opposed to exclusive. I am not put off by all evangelicals, nor am I delighted with all liberals -- I tend to have a balanced view. I do believe that the issue of religion is surfacing in the political world in a very different way in this election, and is therefore worth commenting on.

I understand that there are some who would rather handle religion and spirituality issues as a discussion entirely unrelated to the "worldly" realities around us, and only as a discussion of Biblical, especially Christian, faith issues. These people would also insist on what they believe is a strictly literal interpretation of the Bible as defined by their church. I do differ from those folks.

The world of online journalism is a diverse world, with people of many religions, many views of spirituality. I try to respectfully emphasize that diversity.

I would define spiritual as having to do with the spirit or soul, as opposed to the physical. It can encompass the sacred, the moral character, devotional issues, and how one lives ones life.

I do believe in G-d, and I am a faithful Christian.

What kind of posts would you like to see in this subject area?

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

You seemed to have gotten it wrong again

manda2177 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:49:38 -0500

I feel that your commentaries are more politically based then spiritually.

And how do you define spiritual?

And why do you seem to be so put off by evangelicals?

There are some serious problems with your commentaries. And there wouldn't be if you weren't under the title of Religion and Spirituality. Maybe you could just 'comment' on a different topic?

God bless-

Amanda

Pew Study has surprises about US religious life

Mata H — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:07:06 -0500

The Pew Forum on Religious and Pubic Life has released Part II of the US Religious Landscape Survey. There are some surprising results. The majority of Americans affiliated with a religion do not believe that their religion is the only path to salvation. Generally, Americans believe that there are even multiple ways to look at their own religion. The over 35,000 persons surveyed showed a surprising openness to differing beliefs and faith practices.

Over half of Americans surveyed say that they attend church and pray regularly. There is a great diversity within that group, however. The survey states:

For example, while more than nine-in-ten Americans (92%) believe in the existence of God or a universal spirit, there is considerable variation in the nature and certainty of this belief. Six-in-ten adults believe that God is a person with whom people can have a relationship; but one-in-four – including about half of Jews and Hindus – see God as an impersonal force. And while roughly seven-in-ten Americans say they are absolutely certain of God’s existence, more than one-in-five (22%) are less certain in their belief.

A similar pattern is evident in views of the Bible. Nearly two-thirds of the public (63%) takes the view that their faith’s sacred texts are the word of God. But those who believe Scripture represents the word of God are roughly evenly divided between those who say it should be interpreted literally, word for word (33%), and those who say it should not be taken literally (27%). And more than a quarter of adults – including two-thirds of Buddhists (67%) and about half of Jews (53%) – say their faith’s sacred texts are written by men and are not the word of God.

In this election year, the Chapter on Social and Political Views is worth reading. While few Americans say that religion is a major factor in influencing their political views, the reality of correlations may be very different. Issues such as abortion and GLBT rights tend to fall predictably on conservative evangelicals saying NO (except the younger evangelicals are more open, though less open than the general population) and religious liberals saying YES. But other issues, such as the environment or issues concerning world politics vary widely within religious groups. Once lockstep, the environment is becoming more complex.

Here is a surprise: 72% of under-30 Catholics express a tolerant view of homosexuality, compared with around 60 percent of the general population -- yet they and younger evangelicals are more opposed than their older counterparts and the general population to abortion.

Further, a past report indicated that Democrats were not viewed as religion-friendly. That has surely been part of what has spiked religious visibility with this year's crop of runners on both sides of the political fence. Yet the Republicans chose a candidate whose religious leanings were less clear than those running against him.

It is getting harder and harder to pinpoint political position based on religion, but people having a position are quite likely to say it is because of their religion. If I were managing someone's campaign I'd be scratching my head and rolling my eyes.

Catholic bishops in the US have already issued a statement -- affirming the thirst among the laity for dogma and structure. This is echoed by Happy Catholic on her blog.

Kimberly Winston has some interesting commentary. In addition to wondering if the %ages reported who pray at least weekly (75%) are accurate, she says:

The study was full of other interesting facts, if you are a religion geek like me. Here’s my favorite tidbit - 21 percent of of people who identify themselves as atheists say they believe in God.

Kristin Chapman points to the polar ends of commentary about the findings in the report about religious pluralism and tolerance, showing how some people think this is hopeful and others think it is a sign of a growing shallowness.

In any case, the report is worth a view. It certainly gives a fine overview to what we are seeing being acted out on the political stages today.

MataH, CE for Religion and Spirituality does pray every day, and blogs not as often at Time's Fool

BlogHer - Pew Study has surprises about US religious life - Comments

mata

Hello again Amanda

You seemed to have gotten it wrong again

Pew Study has surprises about US religious life