America remains an overwhelmingly Christian nation despite a drop in the number of believers over the past decades, according to a 2007 analysis.
About 82 percent of Americans have said they identify with a Christian faith during polls conducted by Gallup in 2007. Fifty-one percent said they were Protestant; 5 percent said they were “other Christian;” 23 percent, Roman Catholic; and 3 percent, another Christian faith. Gallup included Mormonism (2 percent) as part of the three percent listed under another Christian faith, but many Christians do not consider it part of the Christian tradition.
Additionally, 11 percent of Americans said they had no religious identity, while another 2 percent did not answer.
The percentage of those who have identified with a Christian religion this year is down compared to several decades ago. This is largely because many Americans have adopted no religious identity and not so much because they have shifted to other religions, according to Gallup.
In 1948, Gallup found 69 percent of respondents identifying as Protestant and 22 percent as Roman Catholic, which overall constituted about a 91 percent Christian population in America.
Among self-described Christians in America, 62 percent said they are members of a church, down from 73 percent reported in the 1937 Gallup Poll. But the latest poll result was not significantly different compared to previous years. Since 2002, the self-reported church membership has been between 63 percent and 65 percent.
About a third of respondents have said they attend church once a week, and another 12 percent said they attend almost every week, according to a Gallup poll conducted Dec. 6-9. Overall, about 44 percent of Americans are currently described as frequent churchgoers, attending church at least almost every week.
Also, 56 percent of Americans said religion is very important in their lives. Only 17 percent said religion is not very important. The percentage is down for the 1950s and 1960s when more than 70 percent of Americans said religion was very important in their lives. However, the figure dropped to the 50 percent range by the 1970s.
The Gallup Poll analysis on Christianity was released just after an international study on the most religious nations in the world by the German think tank Bertelsmann Foundation. The German study found that the United States had an 89 percent self-described religious population. Of the religious, the majority (62 percent) consider themselves to be highly religious.
The most religious nations in the world are Nigeria, Brazil, India and Morocco – where more than 96 percent of the population described themselves as religious.
RSS
I wish that the title of this article was "Religion in America Remains Strong in 2007." Then it would be true! Christianity in America is almost non-existent. People who claim to be Christian, but who have no relationship with Christ as the absolute Lord of their lives are self deceived. Jesus is either Lord of all or not Lord at all! You can't be 'born' into Christianity. You must be "born again" to even SEE the kingdom of God. IF 82% of Americans were Christians, this would be a VERY DIFFERENT kind of nation!!!
m: RE: this article. We know from scripture that God will always have a holy remnant. There will be those in every nation who refuse to bow the knee to any other god.
h: This is wrong again. God was not talking about every nation... This was talking about His chosen people not the gentile nations. Reread your scriptures.
holito8, have you not read where the Lord said He has grafted others (Gentiles) in to the vine (Israel)? The true church will never bow the knee to any other god.
m: Jesus was never concerned about quantity of believers, only quality. He Himself said that the way which leads to eternal life is narrow, and FEW there be that find it. He also said that the way which leads to destruction is wide, and the great majority of people would go that way.
h: That's a lie straight out of Hell itself. Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and THE LIFE. You are suppose to follow His example. You must not have read the Scriptures, or you cannot understand them to make such a blatant lie.
You're wrong, holito8. Everthing I said was straight from scripture. Jesus' declaration in John 14:6 does not contradict anything else He said.
RE: this article. We know from scripture that God will always have a holy remnant. There will be those in every nation who refuse to bow the knee to any other god. This is wrong again. God was not talking about every nation... This was talking about His chosen people not the gentile nations. Reread your scriptures.
maranatha7593,
Jesus was never concerned about quantity of believers, only quality. He Himself said that the way which leads to eternal life is narrow, and FEW there be that find it. He also said that the way which leads to destruction is wide, and the great majority of people would go that way.
That's a lie straight out of Hell itself. Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth and THE LIFE. You are suppose to follow His example. You must not have read the Scriptures, or you cannot understand them to make such a blatant lie.
Jesus was never concerned about quantity of believers, only quality. He Himself said that the way which leads to eternal life is narrow, and FEW there be that find it. He also said that the way which leads to destruction is wide, and the great majority of people would go that way.
In a mere 50 years, Christianity dropped 10% in the US. wow.
A few months ago, someone emailed me a link to this man's message on YouTube.
After listening to it I was stunned by it.
For your consideration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8
Paul Washer Message
Rendab
RE: this article. We know from scripture that God will always have a holy remnant. There will be those in every nation who refuse to bow the knee to any other god.
Euthanization (as well as abortion) should not exist. God and God alone should determine one's birth and death.
rendab, I commend you on a well-written, Biblically-sound message. AMEN and AMEN to your closing thoughts.
Can we euthanize and still say it?
We worry about death of the body. Remember, Many will sleep only to be awaken to shame. God places people in sleep to await judgement.
Euthanize is sometime necessary. Read old testament about the cities of refuge. God is the same God in the old and new testament. God is good, just, holy and righteous. Man's understanding of the qualities of God is flawed. Keeping someone alive does not make you holy, just or good by God's standard.
What is the definition of "Christian" nation?
Can we kill the unborn and still say we are a Christian nation?
Can we euthanize and still say it?
Can we prey upon each other through indebtness and still say it?
Can we remove the name and the discussion of Jesus Christ, His life, His ministry and His death, from all public discussion because it offends or is controversial or because it is not legal and still say we are a Christian nation?
I don't get it.
I am not sure what the definition is.
I have a good friend who says this is what it is to be a Christian:
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
I like that definition.
I am sad to say that I have not seen many in this nation or in the churches who say they are operating "in His name" walking or living like Jesus did. They seem to be more about their own agendas.
May God be merciful to us. America...may we repent of sin...
The church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.