Author: Administrador

By Lisa Green NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Although most Americans believe church is on the decline, the overwhelming majority say they find value in attending. A new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research reveals an upbeat attitude toward churchgoing. Two-thirds of Americans think attendance is admirable, and nearly 9 in 10 call it acceptable. Only 11 percent … Continue reading “Americans Believe Church is Good but Dying”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Americans who say they have gay or lesbian friends are twice as likely to say gay marriage should be legal. Fewer than half of Americans say homosexuality is sinful. And evangelicals are increasingly at odds with American culture over same-sex relationships. Those are among the findings of a phone … Continue reading “American Views of Gay Marriage Are Divided by Faith and Friendship”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A dispute over who can lead student religious groups has left Americans uneasy, but few want to see groups punished for requiring their leaders to hold specific beliefs or practices. A new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research finds mixed opinions about whether student religious groups should be allowed to … Continue reading “Americans Say Colleges Should Still Fund Student Religious Groups That Restrict Leadership By Their Beliefs and Practices”

By Ken Walker Americans have a surprising openness to Christian churches, even those who are supposedly turned off to religion, a new survey finds. No matter which denomination is in the name of a church, fewer than half the nonreligious say “it’s not for me.” Their views are more favorable than unfavorable toward a wide … Continue reading “American ‘Nones’ Open to Wide Range of Denominations”

By Lisa Cannon Green NASHVILLE—Americans view Islam as a threat to their own nation’s religious liberty almost as strongly as they consider it a danger to religious freedom internationally, new research shows. Although most persecution occurs overseas, 39 percent of American adults say Islam threatens religious freedom in the United States—almost as many as the … Continue reading “Americans Uneasy About Islamic Threat to Religious Freedom”

By Lisa Cannon Green NASHVILLE—In a nation founded on religious liberty, most Americans believe God has a special relationship with the United States, and they’re optimistic the best is yet to come. Despite headlines lamenting the global decline of the United States since the Cold War, 54 percent of Americans believe the nation is on … Continue reading “Americans Optimistic About Nation’s Future; Most Say U.S. Has Special Bond With God”

By Bob Smietana NASHVILLE—Americans evangelicals remain among the strongest supporters of the nation of Israel. Most believe God has plans for that nation, both now and in the future. And many of America’s preachers say Christians need to support Israel. Those are among the findings of a study of American attitudes toward Israel and the … Continue reading “American Evangelicals Stand Behind Israel”

By Lisa Cannon Green Americans believe firmly in religious freedom but think atheists are more welcome than Muslims in the United States, Nashville-based Lifeway Research finds. More than 90 percent say people should be free to choose and practice religious beliefs. Nearly 7 in 10 call America a nation of many religions. Yet Americans acknowledge … Continue reading “Americans Sure of Religious Freedom but Unsure Muslims are Welcome”

By Aaron Earls Pastors believe not all divorces are created equal, but for many Americans any reason is as good as another according to new research from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. “Pastors make a distinction about the rightness of a divorce based on the reasons behind it,” says Scott McConnell, Lifeway Research vice president. “They want … Continue reading “Views on Divorce Divide Americans”

By Lisa Cannon Green Most Americans believe they are seeing an epidemic in the United States of people taking their own lives. But most Americans don’t view suicide as a selfish choice, and they don’t believe it sends people to hell, Lifeway Research finds. “Americans are responding with compassion to a tragedy that touches many … Continue reading “Suicide is Epidemic but Doesn’t Lead to Hell, Americans Say”