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<DIV><STRONG>Most Americans Feel Religion Is 'Under Attack,' Poll
Shows<BR></STRONG><FONT size=3>By Melanie Hunter<BR>CNSNews.com Senior
Editor<BR>November 21, 2005<BR><BR><B>(CNSNews.com) - </B>A new survey shows the
majority of Americans think religion is "under attack" and "losing its
influence" in American life.<BR><BR>According to the poll, American Attitudes
Toward Religion In the Public Square, <U>64 percent agreed with the statement
that "religion is under attack" in America</U>, and 80 percent of those who
identify themselves as fundamentalist/evangelical/charismatic Christians, were
in agreement. <BR><BR>"The findings suggest that American public opinion is
starkly divided when it comes to the role of religion in the public square, and
that our nation's proud tradition of church-state separation is threatened as
never before," said Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham H. Foxman.
<BR><BR>The poll of 800 adults was conducted between Oct. 25 and 30 and released
by the Anti-Defamation League. <BR><BR>"Unfortunately, too many people believe
that religion is under attack in America, when in fact according to all
measurements, religion is stronger in the United States than in any other
Western country," said Foxman.<BR><BR><U>The poll also found 53 percent of
respondents believe that religion is "losing" influence in American life</U>,
while 35 percent said it is "increasing influence." Among those who think
religion is "losing" influence, 60 percent are
evangelical/fundamental/charismatic Christians, while 33 percent of that same
group said religion is "increasing" in influence.<BR><BR>As far as Ten
Commandment cases go, <U>64 percent of those polled agreed with the statement
that "it is important that religious symbols like the Ten Commandments be
displayed in public buildings</U> such as court housed. Eighty-nine percent of
fundamentalist/evangelical/charismatic Christians agreed.<BR><BR>On the topic of
intelligent design, the theory that the universe is so complex that it must have
been created by a higher being, <U>56 percent favor the teaching of intelligent
design or creationism, alongside the theory of evolution in public
schools</U>.<BR><BR>Among fundamentalist/evangelical/charismatic Christians, 70
percent favor creationism, compared to 28 percent who opposed it.<BR><BR>And 57
percent said "the Bible" was "a more likely explanation for the origins of human
life on earth" instead of Darwin, compared to 31 percent who believe Darwin is a
more likely explanation. Eighty-seven percent of
evangelical/fundamentalist/charismatic Christians favored the Bible over Darwin
as a better explanation of the origins of human
life.<B><BR></B></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>