I read an interesting article in the Denver Post yesterday regarding the religious views of Americans. I was first surprised that the topic was their lead story (and still is today even). I was further confounded by some of the results. The data is from a religious survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Here is an excerpt of the Denver Post article with my emphasis added:

Americans overwhelmingly believe in God and religion, yet most don’t feel bound by strict interpretations of their churches’ doctrines, according a survey released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Most of the faithful, 70 percent, think there are paths to eternal life other than the one prescribed by their own religion. And 68 percent think there is “more than one true way” to interpret the teachings of their religion.

Only Mormons (57 percent) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (80 percent) have majorities who say that only their religion is the “one true faith leading to eternal life,” the survey found.

About 57 percent of Evangelical Protestants and 56 percent of Muslims think many religions can lead to eternal salvation — a view also held by 89 percent of Hindus, 83 percent of mainline Protestants, 82 percent of Jews and 79 percent of Catholics.

George Morrison, senior pastor at Faith Bible Chapel, an Arvada evangelical church, was surprised at the number of evangelicals who think many religions can lead to eternal salvation. It doesn’t fall within the teachings of the church, he said.

“To believe in Jesus Christ would be the only way to eternal life,” he added.

While 92 percent of Americans say they believe in the existence of God or a universal spirit, only about 70 percent say they are “absolutely certain.”

Almost two-thirds of the faithful take the view that their religion’s sacred texts are the word of God.

That group is divided almost evenly between those who think the text should be interpreted literally and those who don’t.

I found this survey both disheartening and a little shocking. How far have we come when people who profess to believe in God still don’t believe His own words regarding their salvation? I read another stat earlier this week in a magazine (I don’t have the exact numbers handy) that indicated Americans are not just split between Intelligent Design and Evolution but that many people are now accepting both as possibilities.

We have become a confused, diluted nation that is moving from believing just about anything to believing everything! It’s not just that nothing is true…but that all things are true. I think this is a very dangerous place to be. We need God to be in this place and show His Truth and love and grace. God help us!  

I will say that I do believe a lot of people link religion and God together. But God calls us to know Him…not to some religion…so there is a ray of light in this whole thing. If people believe in God maybe our “job” isn’t as hard as we sometimes make it out to be if we will simply introduce the God we know to the people we know.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this topic…leave a comment and let’s discuss. Am I being too concerned? Not concerned enough? What do you think?