By Carol Pipes NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Six in 10 Americans say religious belief is a matter of personal opinion. For 7 in 10 Americans, such religious beliefs include one true God existing in three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A similar number say God is perfect. But an increasing majority of Americans deny Jesus has always existed and many say the Holy Spirit is a force … [Read more...]
Americans love God and the Bible, are fuzzy on the details
By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Americans don’t know much about theology. Most say God wrote the Bible. But they’re not sure everything in it is true. Six in 10 say everyone eventually goes to heaven, but half say only those who believe in Jesus will be saved. And while 7 in 10 say there’s only one true God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—two-thirds say God accepts worship … [Read more...]
Pastors: The end of the world is complicated
By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Most Protestant pastors believe Jesus will return in the future. But few agree about the details of the apocalypse. A third of America’s Protestant pastors expect Christians to be raptured—or taken up in the sky to meet Jesus—as the end times begin. About half think a false messiah known as the Antichrist will appear sometime in the … [Read more...]
Pope Francis improves Protestant pastors’ views of Catholic Church
By Lisa Cannon Green NASHVILLE, Tenn -- Pope Francis is boosting the reputation of the Catholic Church among Protestant pastors in America. Nearly 4 in 10 say the pope, known for his humility and concern for the poor, has had a positive impact on their opinions of the Catholic Church, Lifeway Research finds. Almost two-thirds view Pope Francis as a genuine Christian and … [Read more...]
Research: Suicide is epidemic but doesn’t lead to hell, Americans say
By Lisa Cannon Green NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most Americans believe they are seeing an epidemic in the United States of people taking their own lives. But most Americans don’t view suicide as a selfish choice, and they don’t believe it sends people to hell, Lifeway Research finds. “Americans are responding with compassion to a tragedy that touches many families,” said Scott … [Read more...]
