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TechnoratiAnother 8 percent of those surveyed gave a specific theological definition of evangelicalism. They said evangelicals are saved by Christ, saved by grace, believe in a born again experience, and believe in eternal life through Christ, among other theological definitions. At the same time, 2 percent of Americans gave a theological definition that was dramatically off-base.
Six percent of Americans said evangelicals are defined according to their political worldview. These people said evangelicals are conservative, ultra-conservative or radical right, anti-homosexual, Republican, highly involved in politics, etc., according to the survey.
“Especially during election time, we often hear about evangelicals in connection with candidates, or with political or social issues. Yet Americans usually don’t define ‘evangelicals’ by their voting habits or politics," said Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research. "There’s at least some basic understanding among the American population that evangelicals are defined by religion rather than by politics, even if many people don’t really know just what that religious definition is."
In a more negative light, 5 percent said evangelicals are simply fanatical about their beliefs; and 4 percent didn't provide a definition but more of a criticism such as evangelicals being hypocritical, bigots, stupid, manipulative, etc.
Criticism came mostly from men, unmarried Americans, political liberals and people who did not attend worship services.
A 41-year-old man from Pennsylvania who said he knows an evangelical very well labeled an evangelical as "a psycho who thinks that their way is the only way."
Another man said evangelicals are "extremists with very small brains, so other ideas and perspectives can’t fit in there."
Four percent believed evangelicals are simply close-minded about religion. They don’t like people who believe differently, they believe they’re the only ones who are right, or they are rigid and intolerant, surveyed Americans said.
Also, 3 percent believed evangelicalism focuses on money rather than God. These Americans said evangelicals worship money, use religion for profit, preach about money a lot, or are always asking for money.
Another 3 percent said evangelicals want to impose their beliefs or standards on others, they forcibly convert people (although exactly how they supposedly do this was not clarified), they want to run things, or they’re always in your face.
"Evangelicals are defined every which way, and that is among the people who even attempted to define them," Sellers commented. "When the media reports something about ‘evangelical leaders’ like Rick Warren or James Dobson, or describes a political candidate as meeting with an evangelical group, or polls likely voters and reports that evangelicals are backing a particular candidate, many Americans honestly don’t have the faintest notion of just who belongs to that group that is being described, while others are completely off-base in their assumptions of who the report is describing.”
Researchers said the most important thing to take away from the study findings "is that almost half of Americans could not give a definition of 'evangelical' that had any substance to it – and that doesn’t even include the ones who gave a definition that few experts would say has any accuracy." They also pointed out that many Americans do not know evangelical Christians very well. A previous study showed only 35 percent of all Americans said they actually know an evangelical Christian very well and one-third said they have never known an evangelical at any point in their lives.
johnmorrison9 »
Agree: 
Disagree: 
