{"id":31885,"date":"2022-09-10T15:47:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/americans-split-on-impact-pastors-have-on-society\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:47:49","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:47:49","slug":"americans-split-on-impact-pastors-have-on-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/americans-split-on-impact-pastors-have-on-society\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans Split on Impact Pastors Have on Society"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jonny Mansfield photo – Unsplash<\/div>\n

By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

Most Americans believe pastors are good for the country, but fewer believe they have the positive impact of teachers or doctors.<\/p>\n

A recent AP poll found 55% of Americans believe clergy members and religious leaders have at least a somewhat positive impact on society, with 19% saying they have a very positive effect.<\/p>\n

Fewer than a quarter say they have neither a positive nor negative impact (23%). Around 1 in 5 (21%) believe religious leaders have at least a somewhat negative impact, including 6% who say their effect on society is very negative.<\/p>\n

Americans are more likely to see teachers (84%), medical doctors (83%), scientists (80%), or members of the military (75%) as positively contributing to society.<\/p>\n

Pastors did rank higher than lawyers (42%) or business executives (40%).<\/p>\n

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Unsurprisingly, religious adherents (62%) are almost twice as likely as the irreligious (32%) to say clergy make a positive impact.<\/p>\n

When asked about specific character traits, Americans believe religious leaders are caring, but are less sure, among other things, about their honesty.<\/p>\n

Half (50%) say \u201ccaring\u201d describes clergy members extremely or very well. Around a third (34%) say it describes them moderately well, while 14% say not very or not well at all.<\/p>\n

Fewer see pastors clearly exhibiting intelligence (40%), honesty (39%), and trustworthiness (34%).<\/p>\n

Even fewer believe pastors are narrow-minded (31%), selfish (19%), or lazy (11%).<\/p>\n

Belonging to a religion and attending services impacts the way people view religious leaders<\/p>\n

\u201cAdults who have a religion are more likely to describe clergy members as intelligent, honest, trustworthy, and caring, while those without a religion are more likely to describe clergy members as selfish,\u201d according to the AP report.<\/p>\n

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See also  How to Build Friendships With Other Pastors<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Among those who identify with a religion, those who attend services at least two to three times a month (61%) are more likely than those who don\u2019t attend as regularly (37%) to believe pastors are intelligent.<\/p>\n

Those who attend frequently are more likely to see clergy as caring, honest, and trustworthy. Irregular attendees are more likely to say pastors are narrow-minded.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Earls<\/h2>\n

@WardrobeDoor<\/p>\n

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Aaron is a writer for LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n