Nearly 80% Christian?
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Trends on Jan 10th, 2012 | 10 commentsMore than three-quarters of Americans identify themselves as Christian, Gallup reports. Pollsters found that 78 percent of Americans identify with Christianity. Overall, more than 82 percent of Americans have a religious identity, with this percentage breakdown:
52.5: Protestant/other Christian
23.6: Catholic
1.9: Mormon
1.6: Jewish
0.5: Muslim
2.4: Other non-Christian
15: None/atheist/agnostic
2.5: No response
The findings fit the trend of an increasing percentage of Americans who do not embrace a formal religious identity.
via Houston Chronicle.
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OK… I really really really really doubt that.
They must have used a VERY broad definition.
But.. given your theology (wherever you land on the spectrum)… what percentage of Americans do you think are true Christians?
Come on… throw out a percentage guess…
10 Responses to “ “Nearly 80% Christian?”
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Honestly? I believe closer to 5% are truly Christ centered orthodox believers. Yep, I said it 5%.
I was thinking around 25-30% but the more I thought about it, the number got lower.
If it is “Yes I accepted Christ as my savior, I have a relationship not a religion” Christian I am thinking about 15% now
There are so many “average” people that say they believe in God but don’t live like it, there is no relationship. Look at anyone that gets an award. “I would like to thank God and my family”
I concur with Joe…five percent or less…which continues to make Matthew 7.21ff the most frightening passage in scripture…
I was thinking between 15% and 25%. Many brothers and sisters have fallen asleep. They remember being awake to their faith at sometime but are living in a dream world now. 5% is a bit exclusive and might be narrowing the lens a bit too much but I can see how in some contexts the dispair would give that view of reality. We are in a very Church and Christ aware area where many are post-catholic in lifestyle but still follow some of the ritual (Lent, Chreasters, etc) and turn to the church when life gets hard. But I know we are unique.
I agree with the 15% area. Because many Americans, at least the ones I come in contact with, have a skewed belief of what Christianity is, I can see why they may even be sincere in saying that they are Christians, which all they really believe is that there was a Jesus once and he was good. I don’t know that I’d go below 15%, but maybe I’m the one who’s inflating now, who knows? Only God.
I’m with Robert and Dan’s assessment.
the percentage game is a risky one… I stand by about 5% but would certainly not go higher than 15%… the question is, “how narrow is that road Jesus was referring to…” Reality Christianity is very exclusive or grace would be cheap and mercy would be merciless. Grace and Peace…
based on extensive street evangelism, I would put the number at no more than 15%, in my own experiences anyway
The New Testament used the word Christian three times. The word believer six times. The word disciple, 261 times. What was God after? It is rather clear. “No one can be my disciple unless . . . ” Jesus was very clear here too. So I wonder just how many disciples we have in the USA. I think heaven and final judgment will be rather shocking.
Judging by the standards Jesus set for His true followers, I’d say 5% at best. But who am I to judge?