A new Gallup survey shows that a majority of Americans believe religion is the answer to most of the world’s problems.
Reinforcing a long-standing trend in public opinion, the poll cites 57 percent who agree that “religion can solve all or most of today’s problems,” compared to only 30 percent who say religion is outdated and 13 percent who had a different opinion or no opinion.
Although 57 percent esteeming the value of faith seems encouraging to Christians, in 1957 that majority was 25 percentage points higher, according to Gallup.
The polling organization’s report also states that the number of those who think religion is outdated is increasing while remaining in the minority.
The statistics, based on a survey of a random 1,028 adults in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., become even more interesting when religious affiliation is factored in. A heartening 21 percent of those who did not identify with any religion nevertheless agreed that religion holds the answers for today’s problems.
The study also reveals, unsurprisingly, that older, politically conservative Americans living in the South are more likely to espouse the positive view of religion, while millennials, self-identifying liberals, and Easterners are least likely. Gallup’s numbers also show women having an overall higher view of faith than men.
The study, unfortunately, doesn’t define “religion” nor provide any breakdown of which faiths might possess more answers than others. Gallup also doesn’t define what today’s “problems” are, leaving respondents to answer based on their own conclusions.
While many Christians are fearful of describing the biblical faith as a “religion,” it may not be time to retire the R-word just yet.
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