Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Survey Shows Some Surprising Views on Religion and the Constitution

A survey released today by the First Amendment Center shows some surprising views held by Americans on First Amendment religious issues. (Press release; full survey results). 65% either mildly agree or strongly agree that the nation's Founders intended the United States to be a Christian nation. 55% mildly agree or strongly agree that the Constitution establishes a Christian nation. Only 56% 56% believe that the freedom to worship as one chooses extends to all religious groups, regardless of how extreme. 50% mildly or strongly agree that a public school teacher should be able to use the Bible as a factual text in a history or social studies class. Only 56% believe that freedom of worship applies to all religious groups, regardless of how extreme their beliefs are, while 28% say freedom of worship was never meant to apply to religious groups that a majority of the people consider extreme or on the fringe.