New research shows that most Americans believe God is directly involved in their personal affairs, and that the good or bad things that happen are “part of God’s plan,’’ according to a report in the March issue of the journal Sociology of Religion.
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The research relied on data from two national surveys: the Baylor Religion Survey, a nationally representative sample of 1,721 Americans; and the Work, Stress and Health Survey, which collects data from phone interviews with 1,800 people across the United States. In reviewing the data sets, Dr. Schieman studied the influence of people’s religious beliefs on behavior, and how education and income are related to views about God’s involvement in everyday life.
The study found that 82 percent of respondents said they “depend on God for help and guidance in making decisions.” And 71 percent believe that good or bad events are “part of God’s plan for them.’’
And one in three respondents agreed with the statement: “There is no sense in planning a lot because ultimately my fate is in God’s hands.”
More at:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/10/most-believe-god-gets-involved/?src=me&ref=healthWhen so many people seem to be depending on a non-existent skydaddy to help run their lives and solve their problems, is it any wonder the country is in such a mess?