These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
80% Say Religious Faith is Important To Their Daily Lives
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Eight-out-of-10 Americans (80%) say that their religious faith is at least somewhat important in their daily lives, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Just 18% feel their religious faith is not very or not at all important to their lives.
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of all adults describe their religious faith as very important to their daily living.
Women are more likely than men to feel their faith is very important to their lives. Sixty-six percent (66%) of African-Americans say their religious faith is very important, compared to 56% of whites. Married adults are more inclined than unmarrieds to rate their faith as very important to daily living.
While the majorities of those of all faiths say their religious beliefs are at least somewhat important to their daily lives, there are sharp differences in terms of those who describe it as very important. Eighty-two percent (82%) of Evangelical Christians say their religious faith is very important every day, a view shared by 65% of other Protestants, 46% of Catholics and 37% of those of other beliefs.
Sixty-three percent (63%) of adults say they pray at least once a day. Nineteen percent (19%) pray occasionally, while 15% rarely or never pray at all.
Adults who attend church regularly are more inclined to pray daily.
Seventy-two percent (72%) of those who pray every day say their religious faith is very important to their daily lives.
A federal judge in Wisconsin recently struck down as unconstitutional the National Day of Prayer, declared by Congress in 1952. But 60% of Americans favor having the federal government recognize a National Day of Prayer .
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of adults who favor a National Day of Prayer say a prayer daily, compared to 17% who rarely or never pray.
But then only 21% of all Americans think that rulings by judges in recent years regarding religion in public life have correctly interpreted the U.S. Constitution. Sixty-four percent (64%) of adults believe the judges' rulings have been more anti-religious than the Founding Fathers intended.
While the courts in recent years have pushed religion out of most schools, Americans by a nearly two-to-one margin - 61% to 31% - favor prayer in public schools . Americans also remain overwhelmingly in favor of allowing religious symbols to be displayed on public land and feel even more strongly that public schools should celebrate at least some religious holidays.