At 11:15 AM Sunday 11/4/2007, Nick Arnett wrote: >On 11/4/07, William T Goodall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=258 > > > > "Global publics are sharply divided over the relationship between > > religion and morality. In much of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, > > there is a strong consensus that belief in God is necessary for > > morality and good values. Throughout much of Europe, however, > > majorities think morality is achievable without faith. Meanwhile, > > opinions are more mixed in the Americas, including in the United > > States, where 57% say that one must believe in God to have good values > > and be moral, while 41% disagree. > > >The question isn't even appropriate to Christianity. Even though there is >no shortage of people who have the idea that Christianity's value is in >making people moral, that's not what Christ taught. His strongest >criticisms were aimed at the "Moral Majority" of his time, the >self-righteous people. Christ was not a moralist, he was a savior. His >message was about sacrifice much more than obedience. > >If you ask a survey question that's based on erroneous assumptions, the >results don't mean what the pollsters intended.
Note the definition used: <begin quote> Notes ¹Religiosity is measured using a three-item index ranging from 0-3, with "3" representing the most religious position. Respondents were given a "1" if they believe faith in God is necessary for morality; a "1" if they say religion is very important in their lives; and a "1" if they pray at least once a day. <end quote> It doesn't say if they were asked to rate the first two items on how strongly they agree with statements such as "faith in God is necessary for morality" and "religion is very important in my life" or if the responses there were simply binary choices "1 = agree" and "0 = disagree" as the third one most likely was "1 = I pray at least once every day"/"0 = I do not pray at once every day." >It is perfectly reasonable for Christians to believe that morality is >achievable without belief in God. How about the converse? (Other than in the James 2:19 sense.) >I wish more of us realized that. Then >perhaps we'd spend more of our time and energy accepting people as they are, >rather than trying to get them to shape up. But it took me many years to >figure that out. > >Nick -- Ronn! :) _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
