“I perceive that you are very religious”

There is a new Pew survey of Americans’ religious beliefs. For the full report go here.

Much of it confirms what other polls have noted: 92% of Americans believe in “God or universal spirit”; 40% of Americans say they attend a religious service every week.

There are some additional facts I had not known before: 20% of Americans speak in tongues. 60% pray daily. 63% believe their holy book is the word of God. 79% believe in miracles.

The biggest revelation, as it were, is that for all of Americans’ religiosity, some 70% believe that people who hold to other religions can find salvation.

My favorite fact of the study: One out of five ATHEISTS believe in God or a universal spirit. And nearly half of all AGNOSTICS (defined as someone who does not know whether or not God exists) report believing in God or a universal spirit.

The non-believing community, like other religious groups, needs to better teach and enforce their doctrinal orthodoxy. Or at least stop calling their adherents “brights.”