[JamesP]

For Almost All Americans, There Is a God

(April 14) -- A new CBS News poll shows that almost all Americans believe in God or some higher power and more than half pray often and consider religion an important component of their daily lives.

Eighty-two percent of poll respondents said they believe in God, with nine percent saying they had faith in some sort of higher power or spirit. Doubt about the existence of God was highest in the "young" demographic as well that of political independents, those living in the West, people who live in big cities and men.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans indicated that they pray often and 40 percent said they attend weekly services. Religious observation also seems to have an effect on political preferences. Half of those who said they attend religious services almost every week approve of President Bush's job performance. However, a significant percentage of those who are less and non-observant of a religion disapprove of the job Mr. Bush is doing.

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Question:
What is it in the nature/character of those that attend church regularly that causes them to be more fond of the performance of the Bush administration than the general populace?

Possibly:

- preference for war, particularly of the "pre-emptive" variety against vastly inferior opponents and especially inclusive of mass bombing of civilians?

- fondness for torture and sexual humiliation of perceived enemies?

- disdain for the poor, helpless, needy and any dark-skinned American's ravaged by hurricanes or natural disasters?

- sharing a general sense of privilige and entitlement: a secure knowledge that they are the "good" and others "bad" and "undeserving"?

- comfortable with twisting facts to whatever shape personally benefits them: a general disregard for the truth.

- a love of money and self over all else?

- faith, particularly in that which makes little sense?

- animosity toward science and all things "rational"?

- a penchant for "keeping their eye on the prize" whether it be oil, money, tax cuts, luxury items of all kinds, power, prestige or "dominance over others" in this life..... or ...... salvation in the next?

- a general "sheep-like" mentality: a "question nothing, follow quietly" approach to both life and the after-life?

- mainly motivated by fear.... of hell, the devil, shadowy terrorist groups and all things black, purple or brown?

- desperately in need of strong leadership (God, Bush, Falwell) to alleviate their fear and protect them from the scary, scary darkness?

Any other ideas? :crazy2:

[sidd]

Some how it's easy for the right wing to attract church attending demographic than the left. The Bible preaches about love more than anything and if this God-Fearing, Bible-Reading, Praying Daily, Ethically Sound, Morally Right president truly follows that concept, why do we have Iraq, Abu-Ghraib, Intolerance, Environmental depletion and ignorant attitude towards UN and world opinion? How come this simple correlation appears endlessly complex for this demographic? I have no clue....
P.S: Nice post by the way, Kudos!

[kyindy]

The single issue voting; for abortion, for gay marriage, for a president who doesn't have sex. This has been the biggest draw for the Republican base, not deficit hawks or state's rights, but moral voting on one issue. Take Gay Marriage off the table in 04 and Kerry Wins.

[-V-]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/24/AR2006042401432.html?nav=rss_politics
Two complaints filed with the tax agency say that the large Columbus area churches, active in President Bush's narrow Ohio win in 2004, violated their tax-exempt status by pushing the candidacy of J. Kenneth Blackwell, who is the secretary of state and the favored candidate of Ohio's religious right.
...
The growing activism and influence of religious conservatives in recent years owes much to the mobilization of churches large and small. The Republican Party and the Bush White House have courted them.

Earlier this year, IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson said improper political intervention had increased during the 2004 election cycle. He told a Cleveland audience that nearly 75 percent of 82 investigations resulted in a finding that churches or charities had engaged in prohibited political behavior.
...
"Spiritual warfare," the Rev. Russell Johnson, Fairfield's pastor and chairman of the Ohio Restoration Project, said at a recent news conference. "There's still freedom of speech in this country and it should apply to Christians, as well. People need to get out of their pews, out from behind stained-glass windows, and shine a light for what is good and right."

When the reverand says "There's still freedom of speech in this country and it should apply to Christians, as well" he neglects to mention that there's still taxes and they should apply to Christians as well as every other organization that campaigns for a political party.

[wimzkl]

Jesus: “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-6)

There can be no doubt that love is one of the human kind’s basic instincts, and Jesus taught us it should transcend all other values. Too often in our adulthood, we are caught up in ideas that we regard as the absolute truth. We learn from predecessors their beliefs and become prejudiced in those beliefs. Such prejudiced knowledge gets in the way of our instinct to love and can impugn our liberties. Prejudiced knowledge is that, regardless of the subject, believed to be the absolute truth. Often, it is what people want to believe.
Unfortunately, prejudiced knowledge blocks out opposing arguments.

Thomas Paine: “EVERY national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians their Jesus Christ, their apostles and saints; and the Turks their Mahomet; as if the way to God was not open to every man alike.”

Also common is the absolute conviction that ones specific belief solely can yield immortality – “… as if the way to God was not open to every man alike.” Unfortunately, such conviction is too often accompanied by a dislike, even to the point of hatred, for people of other beliefs. There is really little difference between religions, in this respect, since they, like us, absolutely believe their way is based on the Word of God (thunderclap.)

Prejudiced knowledge cannot be found in children. It can only be learned and, thus, should be regarded as an accident of birth. Since there must be many good and pious people born by happenstance into different beliefs around the world, we should be prepared ask God to forgive us at the end of our time, if we should happen to have it wrong.

I found Mr. Bush's stated belief that God wants him to be President beyond offensive. Many in the past declared themselves to be a god - Egyptian Pharaohs, Roman Emperors and the like. I see little difference between claiming to be god and claiming to be God's chosen.