Interesting survey of Evangelical beliefs in USA

[Bunburryist]

As Gomer Pyle would have said (and the punch line to a dirty joke we thought was very clever in third grade back in 1968) - Surprise, surprise, surprise!  One would think that Evangelicals would be pretty monolithic as regards their beliefs, but it turns out they're all over the place.  It's worth a look.

http://thestateoftheology.com/

[Whateverist]

Can't say that way of showing the data was my favorite. I'd prefer to see written account of what a number of denominations believes following a number of questions. For example: what is heaven and how can one improve their chances?; what is hell and why does God allow suffering there?; what role should the bible play in a xtian's beliefs?; how does God want us to worship?; for which unshakeable sins should a sinner be shunned?; which sins are most understandable and forgivable?; .. and so on.

[mcolafson]

As Gomer Pyle would have said (and the punch line to a dirty joke we thought was very clever in third grade back in 1968) - Surprise, surprise, surprise!  One would think that Evangelicals would be pretty monolithic as regards their beliefs, but it turns out they're all over the place.  It's worth a look.

http://thestateoftheology.com/

From there

But 43% of people who agree that God is the author of Scripture also agreed that modern science discredits the claims of the Bible.

Get rid of modern science?

You don't need aspirin when you have olive oil and prayers of elders.

[chimp3]

Christians have a united identity only when in comparison to other faiths and atheists. I was raised in the Catholic Church. I was taught that church was the true church and Pope infallible. When I was a teen my parents converted to Pentecostalism. I was then told that the Pope was the anti-christ and the Catholics are not Christians. The Pentecostals say that the Baptists are not saved because the true baptism happens in the Holy Spirit not by dunking. The Baptists feel the same about Pentecostals.

I live in the U.S. and feel certain that if this nation becomes a "Christian" nation (as many desire and vote for) we will have full scale religious warfare.

[vorlon13]

Christians have a united identity only when in comparison to other faiths and atheists. I was raised in the Catholic Church. I was taught that church was the true church and Pope infallible. When I was a teen my parents converted to Pentecostalism. I was then told that the Pope was the anti-christ and the Catholics are not Christians. The Pentecostals say that the Baptists are not saved because the true baptism happens in the Holy Spirit not by dunking. The Baptists feel the same about Pentecostals.

I live in the U.S. and feel certain that if this nation becomes a "Christian" nation (as many desire and vote for) we will have full scale religious warfare.

"They're not doing it right!"


It's apparent to the Pentacostalists in regards to the Catholics.

It's apparent to Baptists the Pentacostalists aren't doing it right.

It's obvious to me ain't none of them doing it right.

[Lek]

I don't understand why you think all christians should have to think exactly the same on every issue.

[Jesster]

I don't understand why you think all christians should have to think exactly the same on every issue.

This is one point where I will agree with you. I only press this when someone claims to take the bible entirely literally and the issue is related to it. Otherwise I like to borrow a page from TAE and ask "what do you believe and why?" instead of assuming.

[vorlon13]

I don't understand why you think all christians should have to think exactly the same on every issue.

God's Holy Immutable Truth


-or-



God's Holy Immutable Interpretation




?????????????????????????

[Lek]

God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
Self-identified evangelicals
Finding:
46% of self-identified evangelicals agree or somewhat agree with this statement.


Since I claim to be one to take on all questions, I'll take the very first question from the survey or any others that anyone wishes and I'll tell you what I think.  Jesus never spoke of his followers in terms of religion.  He spoke of his followers and those who were not his followers.  So in truth, Jesus never stated whether or not God accepts the worship of say, Buddhist, or of any religion.  What he did say is that God desires a pure heart, which is a heart that truly seeks him. So the issue isn't what religion a person is, but whether the worshiper is a seeking him with a pure heart.  That Buddhist who is worshiping may be seeking him and may, in fact have found him, but has never read the bible or heard the name of Jesus.  God may have plans to lead him to read the bible eventually, but we're all at different points in our journey toward God. 

Some christians view faith in Christ as a religion.  They follow him, and he lives in them.  They have salvation through Christ, to which the bible probably has led them, but they have different thoughts on the issue of God accepting the worship of other religious members.  This doesn't mean that the bible has taught them wrong, but rather that it is silent as to the specific issue that is being brought up by the question.  I believe he would accept their worship if their hearts were pure, but others who don't think that a person can know Jesus without knowing his name, think God won't accept their worship.

Of course there is only one right answer to the question, but that's okay. We two disagreeing christians both have Christ, and God is either accepting the worship of people of other religions or he is not, no matter what we ourselves believe.

[Minimalist]

I don't understand why you think all christians should have to think exactly the same on every issue.

Was there more than one jesus?