Three out of four Americans ascribe to a religious tradition, but they aren't the only ones who believe in a creator. While the number of religious practitioners has experienced a decline in American society, most citizens maintain that a 'creator' (though less defined) is responsible for the manifestation of the universe, according to a new LifeWay Research survey.
An astounding forty-six percent of 'nones' agree that “Since the universe has an organization, I think there is a creator who designed it.” Many of these 'nones' (those that do not identify with any particular religious tradition), believe that there is a creator, and more importantly, are informed on social and moral issues by this worldview. Which means that faith leaders still have a potential for outreach to this margin of society, helping guide many of their moral decisions such as views on climate change.
Religious or Not, Many Americans See a Creator's Hand
Cathy Lynn Grossman | Religion News Service
You don’t have to believe in God or identify with any religion to see a creator’s hand in human life and morality, suggests a new survey.
LifeWay Research’s overall finding — that most Americans believe there is a creator who designed the universe and defines human morality — is not surprising. After all, 3 in 4 U.S. adults identify with a religious denomination.
The surprise is that so many people who don’t identify with a religion — so-called nones — agree.
The survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that most Americans — 72 percent overall and 46 percent of nones — agree that: “Since the universe has organization, I think there is a creator who designed it.” This view is most strongly held by evangelicals and by older adults.
And most Americans — 79 percent overall, and 43 percent of nones — say they agree that “The fact that we exist means someone created us.”
