Keep in touch with what is happening
behind the scenes at First Fruits of Zion.
By Aaron Eby | Comments (2) | Posted on July 3, 2008
A recent survey of over 35,000 U.S. respondents has atheism activists in despair -- and lots of people scratching their heads.
Despite the efforts of atheists in public forums to convince others that God does not exist, American belief in God remains strong, according to findings from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
In a survey that asked the question, "Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?" a startling ninety-two percent of respondents answered affirmatively. Seventy-one percent of respondents described their belief in God as "absolutely certain."
Belief in God tended to be strongest in the southeastern U.S. states. However, Florida ranked among the lowest alongside West Coast and New England states.
In addition, the study confirmed that most people in the U.S. consider religion personally important, attend religious services at least occasionally, and pray at least once a day. The study also suggests that a majority of Americans consider either the Bible or their specific holy book as divinely inspired.
Amusingly, the study reported that among respondents who identified themselves as atheist, twenty-one percent said they believe in God. Eight percent of atheists actually reported that they were "absolutely certain" God exists. Only seventy-three percent stated that they do not believe in God. (The remaining six percent gave no definite answer.)
The full study results are available at pewforum.org.

Three new 5" x 7" pocket guides: Guidelines for keeping Shabbat, Prayers for opening Shabbat and for closing Shabbat at havdalah.
Use RSS feeds to track this section in your favorite reader.
Visitor Comments
I have often imagined the atheist loudly proclaiming that he does not believe in God, and then shaking his fist at heaven and saying, "And I hope He hears me!"
Happy Fourth FFOZ family!
MJ
Posted by: MJ Belko | July 3, 2008 1:13 PM
Very funny comment!!
Posted by: D.A. Fluker Jr. | July 7, 2008 10:11 AM