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Christianity Today, June (Web-Only), 2008 |

Pew Report Shows Americans Are Religious in Unpredictable Ways

Survey turns up atheists who believe in God, Orthodox who pray in tongues, and evangelicals who think many religions lead to eternal life.

Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service | posted 6/23/2008 04:30PM

Think you know what Americans believe about religion? You might want to think again.

Seven in ten Americans who follow one particular faith believe many religions can lead to eternal life.

Despite the intense ...

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adnan

Posted: June 25, 2008 6:16 AM


its all u think might get in the result of u own ways i beleve in allaha

Ellen

Posted: June 24, 2008 9:04 PM

I'm also surprised to hear that so many who consider themselves evangelical believe Jesus isn't the only way. I would never say that God absolutely WON'T accept people of other religions -- how do I know what will happen at the final judgment? Yet, Jesus Himself said He was the only way. To say otherwise is to suggest that it doesn't matter what religion you follow -- that religion is only about helping the poor and being a good person. To me, that road is disastrous.

DaJuan Hayes

Posted: June 24, 2008 11:52 AM

Remember when Bob Jones Jr. (of Bob Jones University) declared that Catholic theology leads to "spiritual ruin" (i.e. Hell)? Remember when Bailey Smith (of the Southern Baptist Convention) declared, "God does not hear the prayer of a Jew"? Remember the Crusades, the Inquisition, and various iterations of Jihad? For as long as human beings have clung to religious and political movements, there have been those that Eric Hoffer called "The True Believers" ... those that are absolutely convinced of their own self-righteousness to the detriment of everyone else. Bailey Smith was a "True Believer." Jerry Falwell was a "True Believer." Bob Jones is a "True Believer." And all the men responsible for 9/11 were "True Believers" also. And I think more and more people are realizing that the survival of our civilization depends on "just getting along." If you think your faith is the one and only true faith, and everyone else is going to Hell, best to keep it to yourself.

alison

Posted: June 24, 2008 11:23 AM

This really surprised me, because I believe that evangelical is, by definition, one who believes the Bible is true and that Jesus is the only way. But maybe that is wishful thinking. I think one of two things is happening: first, evangelical churches are not teaching the doctrines clearly enough; second, many of us (including myself) would love it if there was some exception clause in there that covered, for instance, godly Jews, or people who have never heard the gospel, or our close friends and relatives. None of us wants to think of people actually going to hell, so we, although we know differently, hope there is a loophole. That's just my theory.

Nancy

Posted: June 24, 2008 10:45 AM

Amen Steven! Our sinful nature, as well as our sins, have not changed over generations and throughout history. The same is true for God's word and being saved through the grace of His son Jesus. Please read these verses from the book of John: John 8:31-36 "The truth shall set you free"...; John 8:12 "I am the Light of the world"...; John 11:25-27 Jesus talking with Martha after Lazarus died...; John 14: 1-6 "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life"...; John 3:3 "Born again"...; John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the World"...; John 16: 25-30 "Jesus Christ has overcome the World!"... Jesus Chris is our rock and redeemer; he comes from our father in heaven, the One, true, sovereign God!

Steven

Posted: June 24, 2008 9:38 AM

I agree with the conclusion that Americans believe in everything. I read elsewhere that over 40% of evangelicals believed that other religions can lead to eternal life! This is what we get for stressing quantity over quality for over a generation. How can one truly be an evangelical christian and deny that there is only one way to the Father. Today's christians apparently have little understanding of what their faith teaches. These results begin to explain the the soaring divorce rate in the evenagelical community as well as the growth and tolerance of other sinful behavior. We are being conformed to the world and not transformed by Christ,

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