Nashville-based LifeWay Research recently found that even though Americans firmly believe in religious freedom, the United States is more welcoming of Christians and Jews than atheists and Muslims. In the survey, over 90 percent respondents said that people should be free to choose and practice a religion of their choice, with seven in 10 people calling America a nation of many religions.
Yet, the respondents also said that the country is far more welcoming of Christians and Jews than atheists and Muslims. While 92 percent voted in favour of Christians and 87 percent voted in favour of Jews, only 67 percent voted in favour of atheists and the number was even lower for Muslims. Just 57 percent said America is a welcoming place for Muslims and 35 percent said it is not.
“Americans are deeply committed to religious liberty, but they can look at today’s culture and see America does not always welcome everyone,” said Scott McConnell, LifeWay Research vice president. “Welcoming people of all religions means being open to both immigrants of other faiths and citizens who choose to change their beliefs.”
As part of the telephone survey that included 1,000 Americans, LifeWay Research found approximately nine in 10 respondents agreeing that Americans do have religious freedom. Almost all respondents said Americans should be free to choose and practice a religion of their choice, worship with others who share similar religious views, practice their faith on a day to day basis, be entitled to a house of worship and talk to others about their religious beliefs.
However, the respondents were less certain about whether business owners should be free to decide whom to render services to, especially when the decision was based on their religious beliefs. Only 78 percent said that such aspects of religious freedom should be considered an American’s constitutional right. The number however dropped to 64 percent when the subject was changed to those who have no religious preferences.
“Americans almost universally agree on what religious freedom means until it impacts other freedoms,” McConnell said. “Freedom to share one’s religious beliefs is a given, but some hesitate to protect business owners in the practice of their beliefs.”
Additionally, the survey found that most Americans believe their country is a land of religious diversity, with approximately 19 percent looking at America as a Christian nation and nine percent calling it secular. Clearly, both numbers were overshadowed by 69 percent respondents who believe that America is a country where all religions are welcome.
“Debate about whether America is a Christian nation will continue,” McConnell said. “Although most Americans are Christians, they understand a nation founded on principles of religious freedom will be a nation of many faiths.”
The notion that America is a Christian nation did not exceed one in four respondents, even among groups that were most likely to support that view – people aged between 55 and 64 years, southerners and evangelicals.
However, over 70 percent Americans opined that there are certain religious preferences enjoyed by Christians alone. Though, they also said that the reason for this distinction was the comparatively tiny non-Christian groups – with atheists constituting only three percent of the total population, Jews constituting two percent and Muslims constituting one.
Interestingly enough, the Christian and Jewish shares of America’s population have been experiencing a decline while the atheist and Muslim shares have been witnessing a rise. Hence, the respondents were not sure whether the increasing Muslim population would be as welcome as their Christian counterparts.
In earlier surveys, LifeWay Research had found over one-third Americans perceiving Islam as a threat to their own religious freedom and worrying about Sharia Law being implemented in the United States. In the latest survey however, Christians seemed more likely than nonreligious Americans to believe that Muslims are welcome in the country. Among atheists, nonbelievers and agnostics, less than half said that America is welcoming of Muslims in contrast to six in 10 Christians who said Muslims are welcome just as anyone else.
Most individuals of faith also said that atheists are welcome in America while the nonreligious themselves said they are not. As 67 percent Christians and 78 percent of those belonging to other religions said that America welcomes atheists, only 62 percent nonbelievers agreed with that notion.
According to the survey, young respondents were also more agreeable with the idea that America is a welcoming place for Muslims and atheists, with 64 percent of all 18-24 year olds voting in favour of Muslims and 79 percent voting for atheists. They did not have a very conclusive take on Christians and Jews however. Contrastingly, senior citizens were less agreeable with the idea that America welcomes anyone they themselves are not familiar with. Even though less than half of those aged above 65 years said the country welcomes Muslims and atheists, the senior citizens had a much more definitive take on Christians and Jews being welcome in America.
“Millennials grew up in a culture more diverse than the one their parents and grandparents knew,” McConnell said. “While many older Americans think Muslims and atheists are not welcome here, young Americans view their country as a place welcoming to all.”
Photo Credits: ABC News
