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MODERN ATHEISTS: "BRIGHT" OR CONFUSED Recently the Pew Forum published its findings on the religious views of Americans. The views of atheists were published as well, to the dismay of many atheists. One fifth of American atheists need some help in elucidating their beliefs as their paradoxical responses did not reveal neither clarity of thinking nor superior intelligence. See for yourself -- and marvel. "Americans display a high degree of similarity on some basic religious beliefs. For instance, Americans are nearly unanimous in saying they believe in God (92%), and large majorities believe in life after death (74%) and believe that Scripture is the word of God (63%). But a closer look reveals considerable diversity with respect to both the certainty and the nature of these beliefs. Americans’ beliefs about God are a good example of this diversity. Nearly all adults (92%) say they believe in God or a universal spirit, including seven-in-ten of the unaffiliated. Indeed, one-in-five people who identify themselves as atheist (21%) and a majority of those who identify themselves as agnostic (55%) express a belief in God or a universal spirit." ____________________ Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life / U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. <http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report2religious-landscape-study-key-findings.pdf> (4 October, 2008).
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