LINK Most Americans agree: You don't need God to be good
65% of U.S. adults say it’s “not necessary” to believe in God to be moral
(Follow link to view charts that accompany article.)
Roughly two out of every three American adults recognizes what atheists have always known: You don’t need God to be good.
A new analysis from the Pew Research Center finds that 65% of U.S. adults say it’s “not necessary” to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values. It’s a sharp rise from the 54% of Americans who said the same thing just three years ago.
The number is even higher for people under 50 (over 70%), people with a college education (76%), people who identify as liberal (84%), and people with no religious affiliation (88%).
It’s the people more likely to be in a faith-based bubble—Black Protestants and white evangelicals—who think God and morality are intertwined. Maybe that’s not surprising. Atheism has struggled to gain a foothold in the Black community for a variety of reasons, and evangelical churches regularly tell members that non-Christians (and non-theists in particular) are demonic and eager to sin.
While the analysis doesn’t speculate as to the reasons for the discrepancies, I would argue that young people and those with a college degree have had more opportunities to personally interact with people who come from different religious backgrounds or have no religious faith at all. It’s easy to see the good in people who don’t share your faith background when you’re surrounded by them—and when you’re more likely to hear about religious cruelty and hypocrisy.
Case in point: The least religious nations in the world have no problem at all separating faith from morality. Sweden, Australia, and Canada—all countries where religious affiliation has plummeted in recent years—are overwhelmingly likely to say you don’t need to believe in God to have good values. The U.S., with its religious majority and politicians who regularly try to equate Christianity with goodness, doesn’t do nearly as well compared to those other nations.
There is one aspect of this survey that surprised me. 59% of Republicans say you can be good without God, which seems contrary to what their most vocal representatives argue. But when that number is placed in context, it makes more sense.
Among the nations analyzed for this report, the U.S. was second only to Poland when it comes to the gap between what those on the right and left belief about God-belief and morality. Even though most of our liberals and conservatives agree that you don’t need God to be good, the discrepancy between the two sides is further apart than just about every other country.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s conservatives score higher than U.S. liberals on the question. It just shows you just how much more work we need to do.
(Featured image via Shutterstock)
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14 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The idea that you need a god to be good is beyond nonsense, more killing is done in the name of gods than anything else. Eventually the vast majority will understand this, then we can kill each other for other reasons.
Ursusarctos
Level 3
May 29, 2023
1
It's good that more people are on an journey of enlightenment. Hopefully, the numbers of Atheism will continue go up in the right direction. Leaving religion & being an Atheist are the best decisions I have ever made.I know I have become more liberal and open minded.
freedom41
Level 9
Apr 25, 2023
1
Seriously? I think quite a few people would be serial killers if not for god and bible's belief. Who wouldn't want to sin their entire life then be forgiven soon as they reach the pearly gate?. After all Jesus forgave everyone so intently he died for the sins of everyone which allows them to do anything without the reins on. If the god-smack doesn't get you who will? There needs to be a stop sign someplace for the sinners and I thought the bible was it. Guess again-me to me admonishment.
K9Kohle
Level 6
Apr 24, 2023
1
So it's all us ole foggies that are holding progress back.....stands to reason.....most brain washed time was when god was seen every day, in every way, recited in school, "one nation, under god", and printed on every bill you spent, and still is.....and if I remember right, happened in the 40s or fifties.....
HankSherman
Level 8
Apr 22, 2023
2
Probably because Sweden's conservatives are still probably further to the left than our liberals, esp. when it comes to economic policy and maybe even other political policies..
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
Apr 21, 2023
2
I agree, no one needs God to be good but everyone needs God to be a religious asshole. Take Kenneth Copeland for example; without religion he'd just be a weird old freak yelling at kids to get off his lawn. So, he'd still be the same asshole he is, he just wouldn't be able to channel it through religion and make $1B.
Religion; making assholes rich for 2000 years.
Sgt_Spanky
Level 8
Apr 21, 2023
4
I agree, good morals without gods, if the worthless bastard existed it certainly doesn't have any morals itself it causes all kinds of horror to happen in the bible and allows it in our world we live in, it just sits back and watches the show, wars famine, human suffering, I wouldn't trust it if it did exist, it and the bible uses the eternal hell to bring people to morals through fear which in turn can cause psychological damage then it wants all kind of attention on Sundays it should practice what it preaches shame on the invisible sky watcher. bad god..
ml58n2
Level 7
Apr 21, 2023
2
Remember no matter how bad or good anything is!!!
It is always dog(s) (god) will, what ever happens!!!
Dog(s) unlike god(s) do not bite the hand that feeds them!!!
of-the-mountain
Level 9
Apr 21, 2023
2
I'm trying to understand this and I do agree with it but I have a problem in thinking here. Why is everyone so concerned with being moral and being a good person? To a great degree morality is created by the structure of the society you live in. It has much more to do with this than with any invisible being in the sky.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Apr 21, 2023
2
I am concerned with wanting most of my fellow citizens to be moral and good people, because that would result in a better society for me to live in here. But as to how they get their morality or how they end up being moral or good people, I don't give a damn how they get there...
As the whole society, especially led by that societies government, media and educators becomes more moral and good. As arguably it has in Sweden (Being the example given. ) relative to the US, then the need for churches to provide alternate sources of moral direction fades.
Finally people are catching up to what has been obvious all along, at least to those with open minds..
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
Apr 21, 2023
1
Yeah, just because you're religious doesn't mean you are or have morals.
GrooshStar
Level 7
Apr 21, 2023
4
Or ethical!!!
As I said before on these boards, going to church, by itself, doesn't make you a good person or a Christian, any more than sleeping in a garage makes you a car...
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