2006年VOA标准英语-Survey: Most Americans Believe in God But Views

By Greg Flakus
Waco, TX
04 October 2006
 
watch report Study on Religion

 
A survey conducted by the Gallup Organization for Baylor University, a Baptist University in Waco, Texas, reveals that the overwhelming majority of people in the United States believe in God, but that their views of God vary widely. The survey, which is part of a comprehensive study of religion in the United States being conducted by Baylor, also examined such issues as income and educational level in relation to beliefs and the influence of religion on political choices. 

The Baylor religion study concludes that belief in God and affiliation¹ with a religious faith is deeply rooted in America.

 
Kevin Dougherty
Baylor Sociology Professor Kevin Dougherty says the study he helped produce shows that the vast majority of Americans believe in a higher being, but their images of God vary.

"While 95 percent of Americans believe in God, we find that they do not all believe in the same God. There are actually four dominant² images of God that are out there."

The study found 31 percent of Americans believe in an authoritarian³ God, who is highly involved in people's lives and ready to punish humankind.  Twenty-three percent believe in a benevolent⁴ God, who is involved with human affairs in a helpful way and is tolerant of human shortcomings.

Then there is the critical God, who stays out of human affairs, but keeps track of individual behavior and, finally, the distant God, who set the world in motion and left humans to handle their own affairs.

 
Muslims in prayer
Professor Dougherty says these images are not limited to Christians⁶. "America is overwhelmingly a Christian⁵ nation, but not entirely⁷.  The beauty of the four gods [concept] is that it does not matter if you are Jewish or Hindu, or Muslim, or Christian, these dominant images of God really transcend⁸ religions."

Using other data from the survey, researchers have been able to see how such things as education, region of residence and income can influence religious faith. 

"Those with higher levels of income are less likely to see God as an angry God.  Those with higher levels of income also tend to be, although not exclusively, they tend to be the ones that would be less likely to affiliate⁹ with organized faith communities."

The survey also shows that religious belief is not strongly linked to political views except in the case of the Christian Protestants, called Evangelicals, who believe in a God who watches humans closely and expects them to adhere to moral principals.

The study found that one-third of Americans are Evangelicals.  They tend to vote for candidates who oppose abortion¹⁰ and gay marriage because they see this as upholding God's law.  It is one group, Dougherty says, conservative politicians can count on.

"The evangelicals, as a group, have much more consistency¹¹ in the way they view moral issues than do mainline Protestants or Catholics. Mainline Protestants and Catholics are more of a political mystery. They do not vote in blocs¹², as do Evangelicals. So affiliation is one important marker for how people may or may not choose to vote."

Professor Dougherty says Baylor researchers will be issuing further reports from the study in the months ahead.

1 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

2 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

3 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

4 benevolent   

adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的

参考例句：

• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。
• He was a benevolent old man and he wouldn't hurt a fly.他是一个仁慈的老人，连只苍蝇都不愿伤害。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

7 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

8 transcend   

vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围

参考例句：

• We can't transcend the limitations of the ego.我们无法超越自我的局限性。
• Everyone knows that the speed of airplanes transcend that of ships.人人都知道飞机的速度快于轮船的速度。

9 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

10 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

11 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。

12 blocs   

n.集团，联盟( bloc的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The division of Europe into warring blocs produces ever-increasing centrifugal stress. 把欧洲分为作战集团产生了越来越大的离心效果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The policy of the two blocs was played out. 把世界分为两个集团的政策已经过时了。 来自辞典例句