Views of religion in U.S. vary
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Editor,
There is good reason to applaud our country’s commitment to free speech and to the free press. Such provisions give rise to the letter from James Pettit in which he freely states his opinions, which have consequences for us all. This is good. All citizens would be wise to encourage open expression. Free speech gives the rest of the citizenry the opportunity to fully examine the proponent’s accuracy and adequacy of thinking.
Perhaps Christianity is increasing; perhaps not. Many surveys are also indicating that there is a steadily increasing trend of non-believers in the USA. In 1990, the report was that 8 percent did not follow supernatural beliefs, and in 2008 this increased to 15 percent. Especially revealing is that the greatest trend is in the younger population, where there is now 25 percent non-believers. This foretells the future.
The highest percentage of non-believers is in Vermont (34 percent). The lowest is Mississippi (5 percent). Montana is ranked at position No. 13 (21 percent) which is higher than the overall US average (15 percent).
Of greater concern are Pettit’s allusions to Obama as a Muslim, a Jihadist, a Marxist, a lier (sic), and definitely a non-Christian. Pettit frames the terms “good” and “evil” as polarizing descriptions of the mazes of complicated issues at hand in the upcoming election. He is free to do so. And, in return, his views deserve critical examination.
One of Pettit’s views that deserves special consideration is that the USA is (or should be) a Christian nation. Not so. One of our greatest strengths is that the US can exist with a tolerance for wide-ranging beliefs. And this will increasingly include non-belief of supernatural explanations.
Personally, I find Pettit’s views to be abhorrent, and I invite him to say more.
Gene Johnson
Polson
