AMERICAN VALUES SOLID

By Uwe Siemon-Netto | UPI Religious Affairs Editor | News Analysis

PARIS, July 30 (UPI) — For all the talk about the Americans' descent into secularism and postmodern confusion, their Judeo-Christian values in key areas seem to be rock-solid, a new survey showed.

Only 18 percent of all adults favor the removal of signs listing the Ten Commandments from public buildings, according to a poll taken by the Barna Research Group in Ventura, CA. The Ten Commandments are part of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. Yet even 32 percent of non-Christians and 45 percent of atheists and agnostics oppose their removal.

On the issue of whether the words "In God We Trust" should be taken off U.S. currency, only 15 percent of Catholics polled said "yes," compared with 13 percent of the national average and a mere 1 percent of evangelicals.

"On balance," commented pollster George Barna, "the research shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans want Christian values and symbols to prevail, although most people stop short of declaring the U.S. to be a Christian society."

Almost 70 million Americans are supportive of an amendment declaring Christianity the official national religion. Given that only 28 percent of U.S. ministers affirm basic Christian tenets, Barna called that result "a huge vote of confidence in the Christian faith."

Uwe Siemon-Netto, Ph.D., DLitt is UPI Religious Affairs Editor.

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