Here’s The Poll to Dispute
Here’s The Poll to Dispute
By Tina Dupuy
Republicans say the polls are skewed, until they show their guy in the lead. Then the polls are clearly right and we should all take note! Democrats panic when the polls fluctuate in the least bit and start using words like “outlier” and “anomaly” (liberal words for skewed). We’ve never had more polls or more ways to compile polls and the controversy over their accuracy has never been higher.
Yes, it’s election season and along with the primetime presidential debates — everyone wants to debate poll numbers.
But there’s another poll warranting even greater scrutiny: A Pew Research Foundation report just released claims they found 20 percent of Americans do not identify themselves as religious. This, according to the foundation, is up from 2007 when the number was just over 15 percent. In the 30 years of age and under category, it’s 33 percent — a third of younger Americans will tell pollsters they’re not religious at all. With 90 percent saying they’re not interested in seeking religion whatsoever.
Just to put this into perspective, 19 percent of Americans are white evangelicals and 22 percent identify as Catholic. Their numbers are now on par with the “unaffiliated” and yes (gasp) atheists.
But here’s the problem when pollsters ask Americans about our religion: We lie. When someone with a clipboard asks us about our belief in god and our church attendance we give the answer we think we should instead of the truth. According to the Pew study in 2012, 73 percent of Americans were religious and 68 percent said that religion plays an important role in their lives. According to Pew: “[American religious importance] is far higher than in Britain (17 percent), France (13 percent), Germany (21 percent) or Spain (22 percent).”
How do we know Americans are embellishing their churchiness en masse? If 37 percent of Americans went to church weekly or more and 33 percent went monthly/yearly — you know what you’d see at churches? Lines of people. A hundred million people every single Sunday. Instead churches (even iconic mega-churches) are going bankrupt and the pews are collecting dust instead of donations.
No, when it comes to self-reporting religious devotion Americans cannot be trusted.
We under-estimate our calories, over-state our height, under-report our weight and when it comes to piety — we lie like a prayer rug.
A different study at the University of Michigan looked at the rate of self-reported church attendance by Americans in contrast with actual attendance. “America maintains a gap of 10 to 18 percentage points between what people say they do on survey questions, and what time diary data says they actually do,” said the report.
Which means Americans attend church as frequently as (gasp) Europeans. Only unlike those heathen Europeans, we feel the need to say we’re in church when we’re actually watching the NFL. In short: Americans attend “church.” Wink. Wink. Air quotes.
On the other hand, there’s no evidence people are telling pollsters they’re atheists and then secretly go to church. The deceit is one-sided.
So if we have been consistently over-reporting our religiosity by 10 to 18 percentage points, it’s reasonable to suggest this current estimate of non-religious Americans to be at 20 percent, could actually be closer to 38 percent. Which is on par with the largest religious group in the U.S., Protestant at 42 percent.
What does this mean? It means the non-believers, agnostic, non-theists, secularists, spiritual but not religious, and moral without mythology folks could be the actual silent majority.
It’s possible we’re completely surrounded. Shh.
© Copyright 2012 TinaDupuy.com, distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Tina Dupuy is an award-winning writer and the editor-in-chief of TheContributor.com. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.
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I’ve never lied to a pollster…and I have left a couple shocked
A lot of Americans go to church twice a year. I guess it is a learned behavior. Of those people that go every week, they may be religious, but not neccessarily moral.
We need to understand that claiming religion equates to nothing in personal behavior, especially in the voting both.
I know a lot of moral atheists
I find that thought encouraging.
With the vocal minority of hateful Christians being allowed to spew their garbage with no obvious attempt by other ‘rational Christians’ to call them to task makes it appear that that is what religion has become… Hateful, self-centered hypocrites.
The inability to accept other religions, lifestyles, points of view while not wanting to practice what they preach and help their fellow man isn’t much of a selling point… You know what I mean Vern?
True SteveK, but those non-religious folks must also learn to accept the religious people without criticizing those beliefs that do not hurt others. Sadly, many of the beliefs that the religious press the most, oppress other people. But, that is religion…a power structure to force more people into the collective. (gee, that sounds like socialism)
I know I have been guilty of the magic underpants comment, more than once.
There’s a lot of assumptions and loose math in here:
population of the US (311,591,917) * .37 / 350,000 (the number of congregations according to what I could fine) = 330 per congregation. Seems a bit high but not “lining up” high, especially when considering the wide variety of sizes of what constitutes a “congregation.”
Exaggeration of church attendance doesn’t imply exaggeration of church affiliation. I can imagine someone saying they attend every week when really they attend every other week or once a month. But saying you consider yourself Catholic when you really don’t? It’s harder to imagine that happening on a large scale, but I could be wrong, so:
Even if it did, if over reporting by 18% (assuming the high end of the range, for some reason), that means instead of 80% affiliation, it’s 80 / 1.18 = 68%, which makes 32% unaffiliated, not 38%, and certainly not a silent majority.
The point of the pew study is that more and more people are unaffiliated, and I’m not disputing that. But let’s not get carried away by assumptions and bad math into thinking we’re Europe.
SteveK and ShannonLeee, I highly recommend this book, if you haven’t already seen it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052FF7YM/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
Written by an atheist (I gather), explaining the value to society of religion. Yes, “a power structure to force more people into the collective” isn’t too far off though without the negative wording.
It doesn’t sound like socialism to me, it sounds like a cult – albeit a very large one.
I think that’s a good point Steve. It sure would be nice to see a little more calling out of that type by Christian organizations who actually follow the teachings of Christ. Maybe some do but I never see or read about it.
As a non-religious person I don’t recall hearing the good aspects of Christianity, or ANY other religion, being criticized by non-religious people.
What is regularly criticized are their beliefs that HURT others.
I also criticize their self-assured cockiness in believing that their way IS the ONLY way and everybody else is wrong and going to hell.
SteveK, you hit that nail right on the head.
I believe people have their own ideas on what it means to be a Christian. Many Catholics seek abortions and divorces, but still consider themselves to be Catholic. The Christian fanatics claim to follow the teachings of Christ, yet demonize poor people (the very people Jesus wanted helped) while placing greedy bankers in high esteem. And let’s not forget that Jesus did not believe in forcing Christian views on others, something that today’s religious right does. And not only is that against basic Christian values it’s also against one of the basic reasons this country was founded: to allow everyone to be able to pursue their religious beliefs in peace without being forced to follow someone else’s religion.
ShannonLeee said that of those people who go to church every week they might be religious but they are not necessarily moral. And I think the opposite can be said. There are VERY moral and ethical people out there who may rarely go to church or who are atheists. I wish Christians in this country were more like atheists…. keep their beliefs to themselves (as religion is a private matter) and out of the public square, condemning everyone who doesn’t agree with your beliefs.
Could you imagine what it would be like if atheists publicly pushed for laws to advance atheism in this country? I get shudders just thinking what the evening news would be like. Especially Fox. That’s how many people feel about the religious-right pushing their views on the evening news every night. They have no respect for others.
I think that for some of the religious people simply being religious is the same thing to them as being moral. They believe that getting their prayer card punched on Sunday is all they have to do, their behavior the rest of the time doesn’t matter to whether they are considered moral or not.
The religious fit some frightening behavior into their definitions of being moral. We seem to be suffering the most from fundamentalism, the belief that an ancient book contains all of the knowledge we need.
I can’t disagree with most of the latter comments as they regard to *some* religious people and organizations. zephyr, originally it sounded as if you were calling the entirety of organized religion a cult, which I was going to use as an example of those who criticize religion, both good and bad aspects. However, in context I think you are referring to “a power structure to force more people into the collective” but allowing for religious people who don’t participate in this, ie. people “who actually follow the teachings of Christ.” So, fair enough. Although I’m certain I’ve heard the sentiment expressed elsewhere as I originally interpreted yours.
I think what seems to be missing, however, is the realization that most of religious expression, behavior, organization, beliefs, etc. has nothing to do with politics, at least as I’ve experienced it. For every self-righteous, loud mouth, fundamentalist crusader out there I’d say there’s at least 10 people just trying to live their faith and do what’s right as they understand it, falling short at times, trying to act individually and collectively to improve their lives and the lives of others, and allowing others to do the same as they see fit. I think it’s a mistake to judge the value of religious institutions by the issues controversial enough to make it into our political discourse.
Well said… If you look with an open mind at most all religions you will find that they are based on good. They fail, in my opinion, the moment they get a mortgage and a board of directors.
This too is true but there are those who, because of lessons learned from their ‘board of directors’, believe they have an obligation (responsibility) to interrupt and interfere in the lives of those who don’t believe as they do.
‘Born Agains’, ‘Teens in Ties on Bikes’, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Taliban (though admittedly their degree of insistence is different than most) etc. etc. all believe that it’s their duty… nay it’s their calling in life to save the sinners, those other than themselves.
And each and every one of them think it’s other fanatics, not themselves, who come across as “self-righteous, loud mouth, fundamentalist crusader[s].”
Here’s a thought if you think you’re on the right track teach by example. Love your family, give of yourself to your community and volunteer. Be part of the solution… Not part of the problem.
Full disclosure: I used to be one of those teens in ties on bikes, and support them now.
I think there is a difference between proselytizing (something Christ told us to do) and being a self-righteous crusader. I was there to find and help those who wanted help. I don’t think it warrants staying home and keeping quiet just in case I might cross paths with someone who doesn’t appreciate the brief inconvenience of having me introduce myself and ask them if they want to hear a message that might help them. I think that reflects more on our “WEIRD” culture (referenced in the book) where everyone is supposed to keep their heads down and for heaven’s sake don’t start a conversation with a stranger about anything meaningful.
I won’t claim that there aren’t some missionaries who work differently. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, again I’ve come across more that are friendly and cordial than those that are crusaders. Sure, if you want to get into a heated debate, they’ll oblige, but if you’re not interested they leave you alone, in my experience.
“Here’s a thought if you think you’re on the right track teach by example. Love your family, give of yourself to your community and volunteer. Be part of the solution… Not part of the problem.”
Absolutely.