GodHave you seen the recent Harris Poll about among Americans?

A lot of people are making a big deal about the fact that the results indicate that while the vast majority are still believers “only 58 percent” are “absolutely certain.” Jeez (so to speak). Only 58%? It seems to me that 58% of Americans claiming they’re absolutely certain about the existence of a deity is still kind of a lot.

But there is good news out there, even for someone coming at this from my perspective. Have a look at this table.

  2003 2006 Religious Affiliation
Catholic Protestant Jewish Born Again Christian
% % % % % %
Believe in God (NET) 79 73 84 90 64 97
Absolutely certain that there is a God 66 58 64 76 30 93
Somewhat certain that there is a God 12 15 21 14 34 4
Believe there is no God (NET) 9 11 5 3 12 3
Somewhat certain that there is no God 5 6 3 1 8 1
Absolutely certain that there is no God 4 6 2 2 4 2
Not sure whether or not there is a God 12 16 11 7 24 *

Not only are belief and certainty down, but disbelief is up! And no, that is not automatic. Do you know how many times after telling someone I’m an atheist they’ve replied with something like, “OK, but you still believe in God, right?”

No tags for this post.