SubscribeHow Does the Faith of Republicans, Democrats Measure Up?"In the run-up to the 2008 presidential election, the Barna Group released a report measuring Republicans and Democrats on Christian commitment.
The new survey, based on interviews with 1,003 adults in January 2007, found that the gap between the two political parties in terms of Christian commitment is not large, as many might assume. The most significant differences were found in the area of beliefs rather than behavior.
According to survey results, 57 percent of Republicans assert that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches compared to 40 percent of Democrats. Republicans are also twice as likely to believe Satan is a real spiritual entity (33 percent versus 17 percent); more likely to reject the idea that good works can earn salvation (35 percent versus 23 percent); more commonly describe themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity (61 percent versus 48 percent); more likely to deem their religious faith to be important in their life (77 percent versus 67 percent); and more likely to believe that God is the all-knowing, perfect Creator and Ruler of the universe (75 percent to 65 percent).
Overall, 51 percent of Republicans qualify as born-again Christians, according to the Barna Group, compared to 38 percent of Democrats.
...Broken down to denominational affiliation, the survey found that 23 percent of Republicans and 27 percent of Democrats are Catholic; 36 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats are non-mainline Protestants; and 21 percent of Republicans and 13 percent of Democrats are mainline Protestants."
My son is a Republican and a Christian and is choosing not to vote for McCain for exactly that reason. My son likes Palin but thinks that McCain chose her for his own cynical reasons. He'll be writing in a name....I jokingly told him if Obama wins it's his fault.konolia, I'm glad you're here on this thread. While I'm not sure if it's completely on-topic, I've been curious about something ever since Palin's remarkable convention speech. When Bush was elected in 2000, I and many other members of my church supported him primarily because of the promise of 'compassionate conservatism.' The idea that local groups, charities, and volunteers could make a difference in their communities, and that empowering government officials was the Wrong Way To Solve Problems, resonated deeply.
verb -- isn't the resolution the most obvious one? Bush's promise was plainly a lie. It was said only to get votes and never intended to be put into practice. Why do you find that puzzling? The distain now expressed by leading repubs for "community organizers" is the naked truth and they're not afraid to say it now partly because the arrogance of having been in power so long makes them confident and because they think they have the religious vote secured.binturong, let me clarify -- I don't find this turnabout puzzling. I find the reaction to it puzzling. Actual community organizers in churches and religious circles supported Bush in no small part because he said that community groups, religious groups and charities could affect positive change. A politician going failing to follow through is nothing new, but now McCain and Palin openly mock the same ideas.
verb, I'm curious...and this isn't meant to single you out. Voting for GWB in 2000 is kinda understandable. But voting for him in 2004 cannot be understood at all. Did you or your fellows feel the same way? Surely after four years of bullshit it was time to run the evil out of DC?Well, in my case, yeah. I got the water-in-the-face around 2002 or so, in the leadup to the invasion.
The point that was being made in the speeches (whether one agrees with it or not) that Obama's experience with the job of community organizer was not comparable to the experience of having an executive job (such as mayor or governor.)I understand, konolia, that you're not dim. You're capable of complex analysis and intelligent thought when it comes to articulating your ideas. But you really, seriously, sound like one of the feminists we made fun of in the 90's, who listened to the stories of Clinton's womanizing and denied it all, saying he was a champion for women everywhere.
Meanwhile to be totally frank with you-the sum total of knowledge I have on what a community organizer actually IS came from Metafilter this past week. I don't think people in my region have a mental picture of what one does at all, and certainly not a racial picture.Eight years ago, if Bush had told us that he wanted to support the "community organizers" in churches and charities, we would have known exactly who and what he was talking about -- it's not some obscure latin phrase.
The point that was being made in the speeches (whether one agrees with it or not) that Obama's experience with the job of community organizer was not comparable to the experience of having an executive job (such as mayor or governor.)
t doesn't help that democrats have started and encouraged as many bullshit wars as republicans.
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posted by Pope Guilty at 4:35 PM on September 7, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]