GODLESS WEDNESDAY: New Poll Documents Declining Belief In God

A new poll from Harris Interactive documents the decline in the belief of God among U.S. adults over the last few years.

A new Harris Poll finds that while a strong majority (74%) of U.S. adults do believe in God, this belief is in decline when compared to previous years as just over four in five (82%) expressed a belief in God in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Also, while majorities also believe in miracles (72%, down from 79% in 2005), heaven (68%, down from 75%), that Jesus is God or the Son of God (68%, down from 72%), the resurrection of Jesus Christ (65%, down from 70%), the survival of the soul after death (64%, down from 69%), the devil, hell (both at 58%, down from 62%) and the Virgin birth (57%, down from 60%), these are all down from previous Harris Polls. 

Belief in Darwin's theory of evolution, however, while well below levels recorded for belief in God, miracles and heaven, is up in comparison to 2005 findings (47%, up from 42%). 

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The survey also finds that 42% of Americans believe in ghosts, 36% each believe in creationism and UFOs, 29% believe in astrology, 26% believe in witches and 24% believe in reincarnation - that they were once another person.

Note that even though belief in God is declining, nearly three-quarters of Americans still say that they believe in this all-powerful, all-knowing being. Ugh.

The good news is that nearly half of Americans (47%) believe in evolution.  Which must be surprising news to some Texas politicians.

Hat/tip to Friendly Atheist