Most Americans believe God has given US 'special role in history'

 (Photo: Unsplash/Raúl Nájera)

A sizeable portion of Americans believe that God has "granted America a special role in history'.

This was one finding from the Public Religion Research Institute's annual survey of American values.

While 64% of Americans overall agreed about America's special role, this rose to three quarters of white evangelicals.

Among religious groups, white evangelicals were the most likely to agree, followed by black Protestants (65%).

White mainline Protestants and white Catholics were least likely to share this view (46% each).

But the least support for the idea was to be found among non-Christians (29%), and religiously unaffiliated Americans (18%).

In similar findings, most Americans overall (74%) feel that their country has always been a force for good in the world, rising to 88% among white evangelicals.

The survey also found that a majority (60%) of Americans agree that abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

A similar proportion (63%) said Roe vs Wade - the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the US - was the right decision and should be upheld.

Americans with no religious affiliation (82%) were the most likely to support Roe vs Wade, compared to just 30% of white evangelicals.

News
Illinois community coming together to purchase Pope's old home
Illinois community coming together to purchase Pope's old home

Debt-hit town in Illinois is looking to buy the Pope's childhood home.

Fear, denial and control: Why the Cuban government prohibits the most natural responses to the country’s dire humanitarian needs
Fear, denial and control: Why the Cuban government prohibits the most natural responses to the country’s dire humanitarian needs

It may be hard to fathom how such pettiness plays into the government’s wider crackdown on FoRB and other fundamental human rights, or how on earth it could justify extending its repression to children, but ultimately it all comes down to fear.

On striving for destiny
On striving for destiny

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Numbers, leadership and destiny.