Religion is on the decline in the USA according to a new Gallop Poll. Do you see this as a mostly good or bad thing?

[Still-alive]

"A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984. Meanwhile, a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of "fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man." This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God.

Gallup has been asking Americans specifically about their views on a literal interpretation of the Bible since 1976, with the latest update coming in Gallup's May Values and Beliefs survey.

The shift in attitudes about the Bible is not an isolated phenomenon. It comes even as a number of indicators show a decline in overall religiosity in the U. S. adult population. These measures include declines in formal identification with a religion, self-reported membership in a church, self-reported religious service attendance, personal importance of religion, and a decline in belief in God. Thus, it is not surprising to find that views on the nature of the Bible have shifted in a less religious direction as well."

https://news.gallup.com/poll/394262/fewer-bible-literal-word-god.aspx

I find this fascinating

I see it as mostly good

I see it as mostly bad

I'm not sure/undecided

[CrazyGirl2]

I don’t know, I think it’s sad that peoples faith has plummeted. (First, here is my necessary & obligatory disclaimer: Obviously people can and do take religiosity WAY too far, like the “God Hates F*gs” assholes, and Torquemada in the Spanish Inquisition. As well as the child abusers of the Catholic Church, et al.) But overall I see faith as a net positive. Even though I am a non-observant agnostic Jew, I found a lot of positives in both Synagogue, and Church! For one, when I first arrived in the states I was only 7. Despite loving school, I had a tough time starting school here, as the kids often mocked the English accident I had back then. But the the kids at Synagogue and Church, were awesome! I loved the girls in church so much, my parents actually enrolled me in the churches private school. It was highly rated, and it was accredited… plus I had been begging them for months! Despite the issues I had with the church after I turned 13, and I went through that trauma, with many at the church turning on me, that foundation of both faith and excellent education I received there, just made public high school a literal breeze! Also, when my mom got sick, I found a lot of peace and comfort in prayer, and knowing that so many people both Jewish & Christian were praying for my mom, gave my mom and I a lot of comfort. So when I hear that faith is at an all-time low, but things like crime, depression, addiction, overdoses, and even suicide (basically effects of hopelessness) are all at all-time highs… I can’t hep but wonder if the two are connected?

[Cherry234]

I don't see it as a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not trying to desperately preserve religion in the US. I'm not that concerned about what someone's religion is or whether that person even follows a religion at all as long as he/she is a good person. Even though I believe in God, I have nothing against atheists. One thing I don't like is people who mock me or other people for believing in God. I can respect your choice to follow a different religion or follow no religion at all as long as you respect what I believe in. That's the way I see it.

[RedThread]

I don't think it's good or bad. I'm an agnostic atheist and as long as religions aren't using the government to enforce their beliefs on the population, I have no issues with people's freedom to worship and believe as they choose. In that sense, it doesn't really impact my life if more or less people decide to be religious.

[RolandCuthbert]

It is a bad thing because people see the truth about what is happening to Christianity. People do not follow Christ. They pretend that Christ follows their politics.

[Kayla45]

Guess republican Jesus doesn't like me too much then, I'm Christan, but not white or male.

[Kayla45]

Or American either.

[RolandCuthbert]

@Kayla45 It is just an illustration. You have folks here at GaG, who claim to be Christian. . . and won't quote one single word from Christ. But they will tell you their political beliefs. . . then pretend that somewhere in the Word. . . there is support for it.

[Still-alive]

And also express their utter contempt for gays, trans, muslims… basically everyone that isn't white lol

[Kayla45]

I'm not political in the sightest, but I get where you're coming from.

[RolandCuthbert]

Yeah. . .

I guess doing the tough guy thing. I could care less that folks hate me for just being me. The thing that troubles me is codifying of the hatred into law. That is the part that is scary. Because of the obvious implications of having the state be the one persecuting you. . . but then what is worse is the backlash.

People don't seem to appreciate how we got to where we are now. They truly think it was this path littered with roses and tulips.

This nation was literally on fire in the Civil Rights era. Had things gone wrong we would be modern-day Syria. And that is what we are facing.

[menina]

It's a good thing to me even though I'm not American and I don't live in the US either. I understand why people believe in religion, especially when they're going through a hard time. But religion often divides and judges more than unites people. Also you don't need religion to have morals and decency.

[420Rachel]

I see it as good thing. Thanks to our ever shrinking world, people can have discussions about religion and share opinions and ideas. So there's more questioning of religion than there's ever been. It's been a long time since I've read the Bible or done any research on it, but doesn't it in fact say somewhere that God encourages his followers to question the Bible and seek out their own conclusions about what they believe? I might be wrong 🙃

[Kayla45]

Although it doesn't directly effect me, it still saddens me that people are moving further away from God.

I'm not American, but if I was I'd be praying for that country. That's for sure. Actually, maybe I will pray for America, for y'all's sake.

[call_me_scar]

Mostly good the people can have their Sundays again instead of having part of their kids dick getting cut off by sex hating freaks whom simultaneously believe that you were born in a perfect image but still want to cut or bite off part of the human anatomy

[kellytheman]

I kinda unsure religion is a very sensitive subject to most people and can lead to fights and sometimes war. I know some people that gave up there religious beliefs because how bad things are and lose hope but I do think you need hope to make things better and believe in a higher power to give you hope.

[ShaTTeredMasterpeace]

I don't care as much about religion as I care about people believing in and having a relationship with God. And it's very clear that most people don't.

[Pete671]

Perfectly said, religions are controlled by humans,

[Apulu_Imback]

I see it as good. Because people sometimes take religion too far that it becomes deadly. I don't believe in religions but in power so I'm all okay with it.

[love_conquers_lust]

Mostly good because I think it takes an intelligent person to handle it. And I haven’t been impressed with what I’ve encountered. I think manmade laws are what most people should focus on, Religion is a bit too advanced for them.

[slatyb]

"belief in a literal Bible is highest among those who are more religious and among those with less formal education."

[goaded]

And in the meantime, SCOTUS "justices" are praying with groups that have or had business before the court. Without recusing themselves, natch.

[_乃尺OЩ刀_TITI]

👏👏👏Very good !😍 Keep up the good work Americans. Big fat thumbs up. 👍 I wanna see those numbers pump up next poll round up.

[AndrésC64]

Not mostly good, 100% good. Giving up on superstitions and fairy tales can never be a bad thing.

[SmokinAces2000]

I’m my opinion religion literally serves no purpose whatsoever

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I see it as a bad thing

[Still-alive]

how come?

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

@Still-alive fewer people are going to Church

[Still-alive]

so why is that an issue?

[llorando]

I see it as neither good nor bad.

[Still-alive]

What do you think about it overall?

[llorando]

Nothing, none of my business if more people choose not to be religious.

[Still-alive]

unless the theocrats get their way in our country. then its everyones business

[llorando]

In deed it is when the constitution states separation of church and state.

[Still-alive]

clearly the far right doesn't carry about that lol

[NorthwestRider]

I think religion is fucked up and a cancer

[Dinosaursandanime65]

Obviously- actually….. good