Currents Shaping Our World: How Others See Us
Clergy ratings drop to lowest level ever; moral decline expected.
Eric Reed, with information from Gallup.com
April 1, 2003
Confidence in organized religion dropped 30 points in the year after the September 11 attacks, the lowest in the 62 years the Gallup organization has measured the public pulse. Gallup blames the plunge on the Catholic sex abuse scandal and the declining attitude of Catholics toward their church. Protestants fared better. The Gallup survey, taken in December 2002, shows 59% of U.S. adult Protestants have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the church itself, while only 42% of Catholics shared this view. Ministers' ethics: Public opinion of clergy dropped likewise. In 2001, 64% gave ministers high marks for ethical standards; in 2002, the number dropped to 52%. Clergy rank seventh in favorable opinion of their ethics, behind nurses (79%), pharmacists (67%), military officers (65%), teachers (64%), medical doctors (63%), and police (59%). Ministers led bankers, journalists, lawyers, and congressmen. Car salesmen and telemarketers, by the way, were at the bottom of the list. Billy Graham was sixth on the list of most admired men, behind three presidents, one pope, and one busy secretary of state. Moral decline predicted: 67% said our society is only getting worse. Is religion relevant? The response has varied little since 1974: 59% say religion "can answer" today's problems. Only 24% percent say religion is "largely old-fashioned and out-of-date." Where the heart is: Religion trailed family, health, work, friends, and money on the what-really-matters list. While 96% said family is "extremely important" or "important," only 65% said the same about their religion. Would you describe yourself as 'born-again' or 'evangelical'?" Yes: 46%. No: 48%. No opinion: 6%. Reading habits: Americans are more inclined to read John Grisham ...
Please complete one of the following:
If you're a Leadership journal subscriber...
...but have not yet registered for online access to CTLibrary.com, you can receive a full-year's access for just $29.95!
Register Here | | If you're NOT a Leadership journal print subscriber...
You're entitled to a special, introductory offer for new subscribers only! Subscribe now and receive a one-year Leadership journal print subscription and one-year access to all Leadership archives for just $39.95!
Subscribe now!
When you log in as a Leadership Journal subscriber, you'll see additional articles noted as premium content only available to CTLibrary.com members. To access the entire CTLibrary requires a CTLibrary subscription. If you would prefer this option, select the offer below that best fits your needs.
|
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 18,013 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
| 
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
