(U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb.-The question "Do you believe in God?" just doesn't cut it for America's complex religious scene, a group of Baylor University researchers decided after conducting a massive religious survey.
Such a question doesn't factor in newly-born religions, moral issues, heaven and hell, The Da Vinci Code, the war on terror, UFO sightings and politics - all things these researchers say contribute to one's definition of "God."
But perhaps the simplest way to approach the complex subject is a multiple-choice question, they suggest, something along the lines of: Do you believe in:
a) An authoritarian God? b) A benevolent God? c) A critical God? d) A distant God? e) None of the above?
"Something like 85 percent of Americans say they believe in God," said Kevin Dougherty, a reearch fellow and assistant professor of sociology at Baylor.
"But people don't believe in the same God."
After asking 1,721 people 350 questions each, the team noticed interviewees' perception of God fell into four general areas.
There's the "authoritarian God," an angry being who is highly involved in world affairs and his followers' daily lives.
The "benevolent God" is also active in daily lives but less likely to condemn or punish. The "critical God" is not involved with the world but still views it unfavorably.
The "distant God" is not involved in the world and isn't very angry - pretty much, just a cosmic force that set the laws of nature into motion and then stepped into the wings.
And then there are atheists, who are certain a God of any character doesn't exist.
The beliefs of those between the ages of 18 and 30 are higher than any other age group at the two extremes, the survey found.
That means those between the ages of 18 and 30 have the highest percentage of any age group believing in an authoritarian God (40.2 percent) - and the largest percentage of those who don't believe in God (6.2 percent).
The survey suggests that as people grow older, their beliefs tend to move in from those extremes. That age group also had the highest percentage - 18.6 percent - of people unaffiliated with a standard religion.
"I definitely see a lot of students who are very interested in spiritual things, but they aren't sure what to believe," said Ben Lennander, a pastor at Harvest Community Church who leads The Rock, a group for college students and Lincoln, Neb., singles who are "interested in God but not religion."
"Sometimes people's views of God are very affected by things growing up, family life when they're growing up."
Lennander calls that time a "crossroads," and Dougherty describes it as part of a "life cycle" - and they both conclude that as students get older, they question and decide what their beliefs are.
"If you're going to experience non-belief, this is the time of your life you're going to do it," Dougherty said. "It's just a period of life where you're asking questions, thinking about new things."
ABOUT THE BAYLOR
RELIGION SURVEY
* Conducted by the Gallup Organization from Oct. 8 to Dec. 12, 2005 on behalf of The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion and the Baylor University Department of Sociology
* Some of the findings were published in American Piety in the 21st Century: New Insights to the Depth and Complexity of Religion in the U.S.
* The 350-question survey of 1,721 respondents was conducted via telephone and mailed surveys, and has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Who believes in which God?
* Women lean towards engaged images of the authoritarian or benevolent God, while men on average tend toward the distant God and are more likely to be atheists.
* Those with college degrees and who earn more than $100,000 disproportionately believe in a distant God or are atheists.
* 53.4 percent of blacks surveyed believe in an authoritarian God; none reported being atheist.
* Individuals who feel strongly that God is a "he" tend towards belief in an authoritarian God.
* Belief in a critical God does little to inspire prayer or church participation
Other Findings
* People between the ages of 18 and 30 are three times more likely to have no religious affiliation than those aged 65 and older.
* The Western United States has the highest percentage of religiously unaffiliated people - (17.6 percent).
* 54.9 percent of those aged 18-30 have seen The Passion of the Christ and 32.4 percent have read The Da Vinci Code.
* The Da Vinci Code readers have a significantly greater belief in paranormal phenomena than non-readers.
* Those who attend church are more likely to support the Patriot Act.
* Only 4 percent of Americans believe that God takes sides in partisan politics.
* 43 percent of Americans say they have had a dream that later came true.
* Respondents with only a high school degree are less likely than those with at least some college education to have witnessed a UFO sighting.
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