The gap between Democrat and Republican churchgoers has widened, according to a new Gallup poll.
The new report shows that 52 percent of Democrats seldom or never attend church. Democrats who attend weekly dropped two percent from 29 to 27 percent – since the first quarter of 2008.
“The survey digs deeper in the demographics of Democrats in America,” reported Paul Stanley for the Christian Post, ”finding they are becoming less white and more liberal from a similar sampling surveyed in early 2008, allowing political scientists to see how the Democrats have evolved since President Obama has occupied the White House.
“Democrats by and large, are moving further to the left in their political views,” reports Stanley. ”Of those polled, 37 percent identified themselves as ‘liberals,’ compared to 35 percent in 2008. Interestingly, this move leftward occurred during the same time that Republicans were winning more seats in Congress and in state houses around the country, thus deepening the divide between the two major parties.
“It’s not surprising to learn that a majority of those who have ‘liberal’ views don’t pass through the church doors very often,” said conservative sociologist Todd Alridge. “All of the social views that politically divide us such as marriage, abortion and homosexuality are rooted in Scripture. If you don’t subscribe to a Christian worldview, or for that matter any other religious belief, then the only basis for your personal beliefs will be from what you see and experience through mass media or through your own personal experiences.”
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posted November 11, 2011 at 1:36 pm
I am very lucky to have accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior before filling out a Republican Party registration card was mandatory in most churches. And I am fortunate enough to attend a Bible-preaching church here in Jacksonville,FL (St. Nicholas Park Christian Church) with no political litmus test for membership. There are plenty of issues other than abortion and gay marriage. Certainly on matters like economic fairness not to mention war and peace, the Bible leans much more to the Left than to the Right.
posted November 13, 2011 at 8:34 pm
The slant on this story is totally out of line. It divides people and makes religion a political belief. This type of nonsense seems to rear its ugly head every few generations.
posted November 15, 2011 at 1:12 pm
carlyn and reporter thanks for the posts.
posted November 16, 2011 at 6:09 am
I don’t think the Bible leans left or right, and it is not a buffet where you pick the parts you want to develop into your own unique religion, though we arrogant Americans count that as a right. More and more people, you say Democrats, have their salvation in government, so why worship God, if there is a tangible reality that regularly sweeps a few crumbs in our direction. If we knew a tenth of what our greedy civil “servants” have done for their personal gain, we would stop bowing to their superior intellect and ask God for some wise leaders for a refreshing change.
posted November 17, 2011 at 4:21 pm
This article makes me sick. It is disgusting and polarizing. I am an Independent – leaning more Democrat than Republican I’m proud to say. Do I go to church on Sunday – No. Why? Because the far right has turned me against organized religion. I totally believe in God but I am totally against the hatred and evil I hear daily from the “Christian right.” I go to church when there is no one else there. Plus, I don’t have to be in a building to believe in God. I think a lot of people have found the hypocrisy of the far-right to be against everything I learned in church. Going to church doesn’t make you any more religious than anyone. In fact, I find it makes you less.
posted January 4, 2012 at 6:23 pm
As this data shows, around half of Democrats attend church at least weekly and some more often. Many other Christians attend church less regularly. But does that make them less Christian? Jesus did, after all, tell people to pray in private.
Also, consider the fact that minorities are the most religious demographic in the US. Who do minorities vote for? Democrats. So, Democrats have the most religious demographic in the country supporting them and voting for them. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Yes, Republicans have a higher percentage of fundies. But what must be kept in mind is that fundies, even in the Republican party, are a small minority, although a very vocal minority.