Time Demographics of Belief

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:44 am

DOUG
Time magazine has a nice 2-page spread on the breakdown of the differing beliefs in God in our country, including some interesting subdemographics, such as the number of deists who support the Iraq war.

Go here.

31% of Americans believe in an Authoritarian God who is deeply involved in daily life and world events. God is also angry and can punish the unfaithful or ungodly.
53% of African-Americans share this view of God.
Within this Authoritarian God group, 23% believe abortion is always wrong.
91% say the government should allow prayer in school.
32% trush President Bush "a lot."

23% of Americans believe in a Benevolent God who is deeply involved in daily life and world events, but is mainly a positive force less willing to punish.
Within this group, 17% believe abortion is always wrong.
79% say the government should allow prayer in school.
23% trush President Bush "a lot."

16% of Americans believe in a Critical God, who does not really interact with the world but who is unhappy with the current state of the world and will exact divine judgement. (sic)
Within this group, 5% believe abortion is always wrong.
69% say the government should allow prayer in school.
12% trush President Bush "a lot."

24% of Americans believe in a Distant God who does not interact with the world and is not angry. God is more of a cosmic force that sets the laws of nature in motion.

37% of those with incomes over $100,000/yr. view God this way. 42% of Jews view God this way.

Within this group, 1.5% believe abortion is always wrong.
47% say the government should allow prayer in school.
9.3% trush President Bush "a lot."

Barbara Fitzpatrick · Post by **Barbara Fitzpatrick** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:59 am

Well, I'm not Jewish and I don't make anywhere near $100K, but that's pretty close to my view of god. I'm not one of the 1.5% that believes abortion is always wrong, I think the government already allows prayer in schools (just not the administration's prayers forced on the students), and I wouldn't trust Bush as far as I could throw an elephant by its tail.