WASHINGTON - Most Americans strongly believe that God has uniquely blessed America, and a similar majority believe that the United States should set the example as a Christian nation to the rest of the world, a survey released Wednesday found.
-
(Photo: The Christian Post)Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, speaks at a discussion about how religion shapes views about America's role in the world on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2008 in Washington, D.C. (l-r)Bob Abernethy, executive editor and host of the PBS program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly; Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation; Anna Greenberg, senior vice president at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research; Kim Lawton, managing editor at Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly; John Hamre, president & CEO of the Center for Strategic & International Studies; and Timothy Shah, adjunct senior fellow for Religion and Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations)
Sixty-one percent agree that America is a nation specially blessed by God, and 59 percent believe the United States should be a model Christian nation to the world, according to a poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research Inc. for the PBS news program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly and the United Nations Foundation.
Support for the idea that America is uniquely blessed by God was highest among people who attend religious services weekly (80 percent), with 86 percent of evangelical Christians sharing this belief. In comparison, less than half (48 percent) of those who attend religious services less regularly held the same view.
The nationwide survey of 1,400 adults, including an oversample of 400 evangelical Christians aged 18-29, was conducted to find how religion shapes people’s view of America’s role in the world and its foreign policy.
People who strongly believe that America is blessed by God and should set a strong Christian example are also more likely to say that the United States is morally obligated to play a significant role in world affairs.
Overall, most Americans also believe the United States has a responsibility to be very engaged (24 percent) or moderately involved (70 percent) on the global stage. However, most Americans believe (67 percent) the United States’ relation with the rest of the world is on the wrong track.
“Americans remain very interventionist in their views about America’s role in the world and want the U.S. to take an activist role on the world stage,” according to University of Oklahoma professor Allen Hertzke, a visiting scholar at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in an interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly.
But he added, “They want us to be smart about it.”
In terms of foreign policy priorities, there was not much of a difference between what the general American public and what white evangelicals consider most important issues. They both agree that controlling nuclear weapons around the world and fighting global terrorism are the two top agendas for Washington.
There were also no significant differences between the two groups on other issues such as fighting global disease, preventing genocide in countries like Sudan, improving the standard of living in less developed nations, and promoting democracy in other nations.
What the general American public and white evangelicals most sharply contrast on in terms of foreign policy priorities is supporting Israel - 65 percent of white evangelicals consider this extremely or very important compared to 46 percent of the general American public; promoting religious freedom in other nations (67 percent white evangelicals vs. 53 percent); combating global warming (43 percent vs. 59 percent); and providing women with reproductive healthcare (53 percent vs. 60 percent).
Differences can be explained by religious views held by evangelical Christians, who largely see Israel as the birthplace of Christianity and link abortion to reproductive healthcare.
In addition to examining faith groups as a whole, the survey also looked in particular at young white evangelicals.
Results show that white evangelicals in the age bracket of 18-29 are as solidly pro-life on the abortion issue as older evangelicals. But they are more liberal when it comes to granting some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples, whether that be civil unions or marriage.
A majority (58 percent) of younger white evangelicals support giving legal recognition to homosexual couples, while older evangelicals are strongly opposed to the idea.
Also, compared to white evangelicals overall, a smaller majority of younger white evangelicals showed support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, with 62 percent of younger white evangelicals planning to vote for him. Seventy-one percent of white evangelicals overall plan to vote for McCain.
“We found that young evangelicals are indeed less conservative than older evangelicals on a whole host of very interesting issues,” said Kim Lawton, managing editor of Religion & Ethics Newsweekly at a press conference Wednesday.
“But this is not a group of flaming liberals – at least not yet,” she joked.
The survey was conducted Sept. 4-21, 2008, with a margin of error of +/-3.1 percent for the total survey sample, +/- 4.1 percent for white evangelical Christians, and +/- 5.5 percent for white evangelical Christians ages 18-29.
RSS
hahahahaha! that is too funny. i'll have to tell my wife that one. thanks.
jester, a couple gets into healthy eating in their 40s, of course it's the wife's idea, and it works, they live into their 80s and get killed in a car wreck, in heaven Peter is showing them this really plush mansion and they ask whose is it and he tells them its theirs, the husband says what's it cost and Peter says nothing its the one God has prepared for them, they look around and out the back window they see this golf course that would put Augusta to shame, they ask who gets to golf there and Peter tells them they do because they're members, the hubby asks what's the fee and Peter says nothing it's part of the package. Then they go into the dining room and there is any type of meal you can imagine, they ask who is all this for and Peter says them, the wife says well what about our blood pressure and cholesterol and Peter says you don't have to worry about that anymore cause you're in heaven and everything is perfect here. After a moment the husbands looks at his wife and says, you know if it wasn't for you and those darn bran muffins we'd a been here ten years sooner!!!
using the terms "great" and "mind" in the same sentence when talking about me is kind of an oxymoron dont ya think?
prophet, I guess great minds think alike!:^)
I was just wondering. That last post of yours sounds like something he's say. LOL
prophet, no, I just hang out with the youth in our church every now and then!!
Believer,
Have you been hanging around jester lately?
mike, no that's my son's common response to whiners, or would you like a piece of cheese to go with that whine, so take your pick.
Mike,
Was that last post meant for believer...or you? I see no difference between him (or me) and you when it comes to this "pride" you talk about.
Luke 18:9-11 He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS & 'LOOKED DOWN ON EVERYBODY ELSE.'
Two people went up to the temple area to pray, one was a pharisee & the other a tax collector
11 The pharisee took up his position & spoke this prayer to himself: o god I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity - greedy, dishonest, adulterous- or even like this tax collector
I fast 2x a week & pay tithes on my whole income
god bless america? sounds like the arrogant pharisee to me
to believer - I hit a nerve, huh.
I think this country is blessed with success in many things because in the past the majority of people followed Christ. But the real blessing is, and always has been, to summarize what Viking said, to become more Christ-like. But as the people of this nation move away from following God, we move towards every person deciding in his own eyes what is right (instead of every person agreeing with God). This nation is suffering and will continue to suffer as we move away from God. Eventually, it may be hard for God to find 10 righteous men in this country. At such time, God have mercy on us all.
mike, in the words of that great theologian my soon to be 28 year old son, "whatever"!
Amen, Viking on your last post.
Paul said (paraphrased) "I would pray that you prosper, even as your soul prospers."
How's our souls? Are they bearing the fruits of the Spirit?
viking,
Then what is your point? Because, apparently we both agree that "christians" who do such things really aren't Christians. So why are you asking me that for?
Hi all, it seems to me that in responding to this idea of the US being uniquely blessed there is an underlying misunderstanding of Christs teaching on Blessings. I can't claim to be the bible scholar that many others here are so I have to rely on a simple understanding of Christ's teachings. But it seems to me that Christ taught
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
But when I hear the sentiment that the USA is uniquely blessed the people saying it never seem to mean the blessings that Christ spoke of rather they imply that God favors the US materially and in terms of world power and influence. It seems to me that this completely misunderstands Christ's whole message on blessings. If we seek to be blessed shouldn't we be praying to be blessed with compassion, tolerance, charity, humility, hunger, meekness, mercy, and love.
Hi prophet, Thanks for your response and your acknowledgment that evil is evil whether it is done in the name of Mohamed or in the name of Christ. However you are 100% wrong when you say I lump all christians into one catergory of murderers or all muslims into one extremist group. In fact if you would read the actual words of my posts you would see quite the opposite. For example I refer in my last post to those who hung Quakers as "supposed" Christians, obviously indicating that I do not consider them to be Christian in their conduct.
to believer - the great commission? the real great commission that is being done to the world is to open their markets to sell Ipods, use cheap labor & exploit the resources of those countries. I guess that is why america is bless. and pls specify what kind of blessings - is it money.
is 911 removal of the protective hand you talk about or is it bec. somebody called himself to be a decider decided not to read the PDB 'binladen determined to attack US'. that is not protection but lacking to use common sense.
and johnzon is right - everybody SHOULD agree with the people of america. if they do not, these people who disagree are called atheist, communist, leftist, liberal, & other labels so america can be 'blessed'.
johnzon, God's protective hand is not necessarily on America, but on His Church in America. As long as His Church in America continues to join Him in fulfilling His Great Commission and being the Christ-like example we need to be, chances are He will continue to keep His protective hand on our nation, but if His Church turns their back on Him then we should not be surprised when He begins to remove His protective hand.
The answer is no. But the problem with your question is this. You combine ALL Christians into a single catagory of being murderers...as you combine ALL muslims into the extremist catagory.
DP, hi right on on your last sentence in previous post.
Prophet, Hi sorry about not responding sooner. you ask me to cite a biblical authority that Christians are perfect though I don't know why since I never made any such claim or implication.
However rather than trying to lay sarcastic verbal snares maybe you could answer my queery. Do you think there is any significant difference between the supposed "christians" who hung Quakers in Mass. during our countries early years for refusing to recant their faith and the Islamic radicals who cut off peoples heads who refuse to convert to Islam.
"Prophet, Yes, I know, not having a belief in your religion makes me bad person and will not have my ticket punched at the pearly gates."
Not quite. The Bible says there is none righteous...no not one man. I'm just as bad as you are. Maybe worse in someways...I don't know. It is dying to self and living for Jesus that allows us to get into heaven.
"By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is a gift from God, not of works lest anyone should boast."
I'm not part of a religion. I'm in a relationship with Christ. Big difference.
Prophet, Yes, I know, not having a belief in your religion makes me bad person and will not have my ticket punched at the pearly gates.
Prophet, I'm not an atheist and I don't consider myself an Christian. I don't follow any particular religion.
If you don't believe in the God of the Bible, or His Son, Jesus Christ, or what is taught in the Bible, you aren't a Christian.
Prophet, Just because I disagree with you and dont buy into the Christian religion thing does not make me an athiest.
so typical. christians would point to sin but if their sins are exposed they are insulted.they do not want to be rebuked. this idea 'god bless america' is arrogance. it means that america is 'holy & sinless'. but for the past 8 years, its foreign policy is too arrogant. then uses christianity for political purposes. just like the pharisees, when they were told they were hypocrites, arrogant lovers of money,they started calling name, started labeling others in order to get what they want. that is 'god bless america'?
prophet, could you show me where in the Bible it suggests that the United States is a specialy blessed nation?
Oh yeah, I forgot I was talking to a carnal atheist (yes, I know...redundant). I wouldn't expect you to know anything about God or the matters of the spirit.
Believer,
<<God may have His protective hand on us as a nation >>
Why would God have a 'protective hand' on a nation and not have a protective hand on the Native Americans that were slaughtered and the Africans that were murdered and enslaved. That doesn't seem to make much sense unless God didn't like his Native American and African creations. Is it possible God sent the Christians of Europe out to inflict pain on the aforementioned? Does God have favorites?
Prophet
<Did God find pleasure in how we treated the Native Americans? Not at all. He grieved>
How do you know? Perhaps God took great pleasure in watching the slaughter of his creation in the Americas by the Christians of Europe. Perhaps God had it in for the Africans too as Christian Europeans pillaged the African continent and enslaved its people.
OR
Perhaps there is no God. That's certainly a possibiity, a very strong possibility.
johnzon,
Even Christians make mistakes. Peter denied that he know Jesus, and he became a great evangelist. Paul was a religious man who killed in the name of God, and yet when he discovered the true nature of God he repented and became a great evangelist.
Did God find pleasure in how we treated the Native Americans? Not at all. He grieved. He greived at the atrocities, and also at our ignorance. But maybe God turned it into something good.
viking,
I'm not certain that you are a studier of the Bible, but if you are, could you please show me where it says that Christians are perfect?
viking, you're right don't believe it, my point to johnzon was that even though God may have His protective hand on us as a nation He does still discipline us when we allow for things such as slavery and how we treated Native Americans, but I appreciate you pointing out how some could have read and interpreted my post that way.
Believer, I can't believe you intended to say that the practices of slavery and genocide carried out as institutions of public policy during the nations early years were an example of a father's loving discipline or in any way consistent with the teachings of Christ. For myself those who used Christianity at the time as justification for these and other crimes against humanity I find to be despicable and prime examples of anti Christ conduct. Just as I find the acts of the early "Christians" of Mass in Hanging Quakers as heretics to be despicable and proof of unchristian conduct. While there were many noble and great persons in our history there were also many acts of barbarism and shame.
Hi all, This idea of being a specially blessed nation seems backwards to me. Generally when I hear people saying this kind of thing they mean that God has given the USA preferential treatment in some way in reward for being a Christian nation. I find this whole concept troubling. Christians by the nature of Christ's ministry are called to self denial and sacrifice in the worldly sense. As Christian's we should seek to be blessed with humility rather than arrogance, meekness rather than power, and charity rather than greed and exploitation of other countries. My favorite verse from the old standard "God Bless America" was always the prayer "confirm her soul in self control her liberty in love". I am saddened when I see how far we have strayed from that sentiment.
God did not bless the land he blessed the people. Many of us will agree that American people in general have increasignly turned away from God; even within Christianity. Moreover God will bless any country that seeks to obey him. 2 Chron 7:14-15
4 if my people , who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
NIV
And how did all these people arrive at this conclusion biblically? Jesus said a lot about earthly powers, "Caesar," princes of the world, etc. Why do we have this desire to link the Church to worldly powers?
johnzon, I responded to you at another site that talks to this question, but getting ready to hit the sack so real quick as a father when my son was little as much as possible I had my hand of protection upon him and at times that same hand lovingly disciplined his little behind, I hope you get my point, have a good night and I'll check your response if you do in the morning, believer
Beleiver, Was the "God has had His hand of protection on America" there when his creations- American Indian's were being exterminated and African's enslaved by Christian Europeans?
Was the eradication (genocide) of American Indian and enslavement of Africans by the Christian European invaders part of that unique blessing?
America got some special blessings from God and America
has shared that by donating food, foreign aid, and
emergency help to friends and foes around the world.
Even though we hear more about criminals and rapists
through the media, but America has more percentage of
generous people than any other nation.
But during the last 3 decades, our trend began to change
to the idol of materialism, and a nation of rebellion
against God who blessed us so abundently. We need to
turn to God for our sins, and God will pour out His
blessings upon us again. Until the U.S. economy is
not started moving, the world economy will not start
moving. Those preachers who are the prophets to proclaim
God's commission to motivate others to be compassionate
to the suffering people, lost their vision and start
preaching a new gospel of self gratifying prosperity
gospel and began to enjoy the lifestyle of royal
families. It is the right time to change our mindset
and attitude toward God and our fellow human beings all all over the world, whether
they are of the same faith or not. I can tell about
the special blessings of God upon this nation became I
was born and brought up in another country and could see
both sides of life.
Civil and religious liberty is a fundamental principle of the United States. So long as these twin pillars are not tampered with we shall continue to receive blessings; however, from a biblical standpoint, all nations, including our own will eventually be arrayed against the Lord of hosts.
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the WHOLE WORLD, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14).
There is no biblical basis for this thought or idea.In Genesis God cursed the land including this one.Jesus said Blessed are the peace makers,the poor in spirit,and those persecuted in His name.None of these are discriptions of America.America is and will continue to be a part of this world until the LORD returns,so it can not possibly be a truly "christian"Nation.No nation with a human head can be a christian nation no matter haw much they claim to be.
Thank you, believer,
for your kind words. That message and Evanglist who preached the message truly gave all of us that day much to ponder. I cannot do it justice - wish you could have heard the sermon. Carter was President at the time and sermon was given on 4th of July. I have tried giving it as an example when my children first started out in this world and we talked about "responsibilities" of Christians in this world.
Lily
lily, a very thought provoking and on target post!
steveh20, although it's true what you said, my post was truly focused on this article and nothing else.
I like the cut of your jib mike...
believer, I have to be honest with you, I feel like I've heard the God will withdraw his blessing message at every election for the past 30 years, it really is true there is nothing new under the Sun. I understand why you write that but in a historical context, it is said by certain Christian streams at every election.
Steve
I have notes from a sermon I once heard approximately 20 years ago. The sermon centered around Ecc 10:7 - "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth." The jest of the message was that this world (and our country) is turning upside down much the same way it would be if a "servant" were riding, while the "prince" were walking. To Believers, the message was that when we allow ourselves to become too complacent, too matter-of-fact, and are not placing our complete trust in God, but rather in the ignorance of the world around us (whether it be men/job/fulfilling our wants, rather than our needs) ... this nation will suffer the consequences.
Twenty years have passed since I first heard that message and the upcoming elections, the fights over who is or is not a Christian candidate, the conditions and suffering this nation is facing are reminders that if we, as Christians, do not bend our knees and pray for His holy guidance and begin placing our complete trust in God and our Saviour, we would not be able to recognize or be able to discern the Christians from those who are unbelievers, and the servants will ride this nation, while the princes (leaders) are cast aside.