America as "Jesusland"
A popular map circulating the Internet following last month's election showed the "blue" states that voted for Democrat John Kerry aligned with our northern neighbor as "The United States of Canada," and the great swath of red states that voted for President Bush as "Jesusland." A Newsweek poll suggests that characterization of the red states may not be far from the mark:
"Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.
"Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas—the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East—is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.
"In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime; 47 percent do not, the poll shows."
One number bears repeating: 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Yet last night, Dave Silverman of American Atheists was on Scarborough Country insisting that this is not a Christian nation. Once again: this is a secular, pluralist country founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Saying it is not a Christian nation over and over again will not change history. America has prospered because Christianity is a tolerant religion, allowing individuals to choose to embrace the faith or not. This tolerance permitted a thousand flowers to bloom in this country, but Christian principles -- and goals -- were unmistakable driving forces behind the founding of this nation. Many people still believe that Jesus is the reason for the season. Joy to the world!
"Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.
"Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas—the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East—is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.
"In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime; 47 percent do not, the poll shows."
One number bears repeating: 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Yet last night, Dave Silverman of American Atheists was on Scarborough Country insisting that this is not a Christian nation. Once again: this is a secular, pluralist country founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Saying it is not a Christian nation over and over again will not change history. America has prospered because Christianity is a tolerant religion, allowing individuals to choose to embrace the faith or not. This tolerance permitted a thousand flowers to bloom in this country, but Christian principles -- and goals -- were unmistakable driving forces behind the founding of this nation. Many people still believe that Jesus is the reason for the season. Joy to the world!
posted by Hal | 10:23 AM
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