Survey: Most Americans Believe You Do Not Need God to be Good

[Caliban]

A new Pew Research poll reveals the fast-changing attitudes of what it means to be good.

Younger Americans have a much higher percentage: Only 27% of people ages 18-29 link godliness and goodness.

Another interesting finding is that those with more education are less likely to see belief in god as necessary.

 

[zippy2006]

Lol: "Most Americans believe you don't need God to be good..." Way to spin the story, Caliban, making an assertion that the article never even claims. Atheist biases aside, this is an interesting article with lots of different data points and angles.

 

[Caliban]

Lol: "Most Americans believe you don't need God to be good..." Way to spin the story, Caliban, making an assertion that the article never even claims. Atheist biases aside, this is an interesting article with lots of different data points and angles.

How is that spin? It is exactly what the poll reveals.

 

[Bobber]

Sorry Caliban but you miss the WHOLE real point of Christianity. The real point of Christianity isn't that there's no goodness whatsoever in man. The point is man's goodness isn't on the same level as the agape nature of God he imparts into ones spirit when they're born again. It's called God making one a new creature in Christ Jesus leaving the life of God within. 2 Cor 5:17

Yes there are some that believe in Total Depravity that there is no good whatsoever in a non Christian. But that's merely an ideological position that some have in the religious world.

Sure you can exhibit goodness as a non Christian. A non Christian will risk their life to save another. A non Christian will take care of their elderly parents. A non Christian can say a kind word to another or give away all their money to charity. That's still not receiving Christ and having the LIFE of God within.

So I could say NO you don't need God to have goodness. Doesn't mean anything though. You do need God though to have the upgrade of nature and new heart he says we need for Heaven.

 

[zippy2006]

How is that spin? It is exactly what the poll reveals.

It's as spinny as posting a thread about the study and naming it, "Survey: Rich People Don't Think God Matters." You're just cherry picking and misrepresenting what the survey is actually about.

 

[Caliban]

Sorry Caliban but you miss the WHOLE real point of Christianity. The real point of Christianity isn't that there's no goodness whatsoever in man. The point is man's goodness isn't on the same level as the agape nature of God he imparts into ones spirit when they're born again. It's called God making one a new creature in Christ Jesus leaving the life of God within. 2 Cor 5:17

Yes there are some that believe in Total Depravity that there is no good whatsoever in a non Christian. But that's merely an ideological position that some have in the religious world.

Sure you can exhibit goodness as a non Christian. A non Christian will risk their life to save another. A non Christian will take care of their elderly parents. A non Christian can say a kind word to another or give away all their money to charity. That's still not receiving Christ and having the LIFE of God within.

So I could say NO you don't need God to have goodness. Doesn't mean anything though. You do need God though to have the upgrade of nature and new heart he says we need for Heaven.

I understand all that.
The poll is addressing what the public thinks qualifies as good. There may be wide disparity on that point. The poll is not defining "good" in your theological term.
Whatever Americans think good is, the majority of them do not thing it has anything to do with belief in a god.

 

[Caliban]

It's as spinny as posting a thread about the study and naming it, "Survey: Rich People Don't Think God Matters." You're just cherry picking and misrepresenting what the survey is actually about.

Is my headline incorrect? If it said "most Americans think belief in a god is necessary to be good, " would that be true according to this poll? Of course not. The headline stands.

 

[Caliban]

It's as spinny as posting a thread about the study and naming it, "Survey: Rich People Don't Think God Matters." You're just cherry picking and misrepresenting what the survey is actually about.

You tell us what the poll is "really" about then.

 

[Caliban]

Here is a similar finding from Barna (a Christian polling organization):
"Christian morality is being ushered out of American social structures and off the cultural main stage, leaving a vacuum in its place—and the broader culture is attempting to fill the void."

 

[zippy2006]

You tell us what the poll is "really" about then.

The study is about how different global and societal demographics view the relation of belief to morality. It's only about the United States insofar as the United States is one of the countries in the world.

 

[Mantishand]

The good works of man are not so good in Gods eyes. Filthy rags. Many of those who are rich also trust in their riches and don’t need God in their mind. The educated that don’t believe in God are indoctrinated IMO. Soft heads are pumped full of anti Christian views in many colleges. As well as Marxist, communist, socialist left views.

I don’t think people realize what sinners they are until The Holy Spirit puts that conviction in you.

 

[Caliban]

The study is about how different global and societal demographics view the relation of belief to morality. It's only about the United States insofar as the United States is one of the countries in the world.

That's right, and what do Americans think of the relationship of goodness and its connection to God???
Since I, and most others on this forum are Americans, its findings are relevant to us. No matter what you say, it doesn't change the data.

 

[Michie]

The actual title:
The Global God Divide

People’s thoughts on whether belief in God is necessary to be moral vary by economic development, education and age.

Is Belief in God Necessary for Good Values? Global Survey on Religion and Morality

 

[Caliban]

The good works of man are not so good in Gods eyes. Filthy rags. Many of those who are rich also trust in their riches and don’t need God in their mind. The educated that don’t believe in God are indoctrinated IMO. Soft heads are pumped full of anti Christian views in many colleges. As well as Marxist, communist, socialist left views.

I don’t think people realize what sinners they are until The Holy Spirit puts that conviction in you.

That might be true, I don't know how I could verify it, but it isn't what most Americans currently believe. In fact, the trend is in the opposite direction. Especially with younger generations.

 

[Caliban]

The actual title:
The Global God Divide

People’s thoughts on whether belief in God is necessary to be moral vary by economic development, education and age.

Is Belief in God Necessary for Good Values? Global Survey on Religion and Morality

Yep, thats why I provided a link to it.

 

[Michie]

Yep, thats why I provided a link to it.

It’s usually best to use the original title lest you get complaints. Usually do anyway but it helps.

 

[Caliban]

It’s usually best to use the original title lest you get complaints. Usually do anyway but it helps.

Not if you want to start a discussion on a particular finding in the research. I could have focused on several other findings. The original source is right there for all to see. If you read about this poll in any news source, the headlines will all be different, but the original poll will be the same. That is simply how headlines work.

 

[Michie]

Not if you want to start a discussion on a particular finding in the research. I could have focused on several other findings. The original source is right there for all to see. If you read about this poll in any news source, the headlines will all be different, but the original poll will be the same. That is simply how headlines work.

Thank you but I’m not debating headlines. Headlines as they are written for the content belong in the header. Your comments or impressions go with the contents section. But hey, whatever.

 

[Caliban]

Thank you but I’m not debating headlines. Headlines as they are written for the content belong in the header. Your comments or impressions go with the contents section. But hey, whatever.

I didn't post this to debate headlined either; I didn't bring up headlines. I posted it to discuss the finding that American ideas of the source of goodness are changing. Why do you think that is?

 

[Michie]

I didn't post this to debate headlined either; I didn't bring up headlines. I posted it to discuss the finding that American ideas of the source of goodness are changing. Why do you think that is?

Ok friend. Do your thing. Lol!