Contrary to Public Opinion

Public opinion polls are often referenced in news reports, but not always with specifics. Often times reporters will say things like "public support for the war in Iraq has dropped over the last month," or "prayer in school is bad because it forces the opinion of a few people on the rest." With the disclaimer that surveys have many ways of being done inaccurately and public policy should not be based solely on polling which is often done on a very small sample of the population, here are a few statistics (with numbers!) that contradict what the media would lead you to believe about Americans' beliefs:

In July, 2005 the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press conducted a survey under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a nationwide sample of 2,000 adults, 18 years of age or older. In this study they found that 67% of the people polled felt that liberals have gone too far in trying to keep religion out of schools and government, while only 45% felt that conservatives have gone too far in trying to impose their religious values on our country.

In addition, 64% favored teaching Creationism along with evolution in public schools. 62% said that President Bush mentions faith and prayer the right amount and only 26% felt that politicians in general express their views too much. Two-thirds of democrats, independents, and republicans feel that faith-based groups should be allowed to receive government funding to provide social services, and that houses of worship help solve social problems. This same study found that, while not necessarily supporting the Iraq war, 60% of the US believe that we should promote Democracy globally.

A November, 1997 Gallup Poll found that only 10% of Americans believe that God had no part in the creation/development of life, while 44% believe in a "Creation without Evolution" history.

The First Amendment Center and the American Journalism Review released the results of a poll in August, 2003 in which they found that 68% of adults believe that teachers who include "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance were not violating the principle of separation of church and state, and 73% feel that the pledge, including the "under God" phrase, is "primarily a statement related to the American political tradition." Posting the Ten Commandments in government offices was favored by 60%.

A Fox News/Opinion Poll from November, 2005 found that 59% of Americans feel that Christianity is under attack in the United States today. 83% believe that nativity scenes should be allowed on public property. The motto "In God We Trust" on currency and coins is supported by an overwhelming 93%, and the phrase "under God" in the pledge by 90%.