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

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
Egyptian Christian killed in Libya after refusing to deny Jesus
Egyptian Christian killed in Libya after refusing to deny Jesus

He was killed despite the family paying a ransom.

Widow of Christian killed in Nigeria takes plea for persecuted Christians to Downing Street
Widow of Christian killed in Nigeria takes plea for persecuted Christians to Downing Street

A Nigerian widow who witnessed Boko Haram militants shoot her husband dead after he identified himself as a Christian is joining a delegation handing in a petition to Downing Street on Thursday.

PayPal updates policies on 'hate' and 'intolerance'
PayPal updates policies on 'hate' and 'intolerance'

A number of financial institutions have changed their policies in recent years.

Catholic Church expresses 'serious concern' about proposed conversion therapy ban
Catholic Church expresses 'serious concern' about proposed conversion therapy ban

Efforts to ban so-called 'conversion therapy' are underway across the United Kingdom.