Posted on 09/22/2006 6:21:42 PM PDT by NZerFromHK
Learn what American attitudes toward current events and Bible prophecy are in this exclusive new poll.
Are We Living in the Last Days?
We asked: "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'Events such as the rebirth of the State of Israel, wars and instability in the Middle East, recent earthquakes, and the tsunami in Asia are evidence that we are living in what the Bible calls the last days.'"
* 42% of all Americans agree
* 44% disagree
* 14% say they don’t know
Last Days—Gender
* 50 percent of women agree; 37 percent disagree;
* 14 percent don’t know
* 34 percent of men agree; 52 percent disagree; 15 percent don’t know
Last Days—Religion
* 58 percent of evangelical/born-again Christians agree; 30 percent disagree
* 50 percent of all Protestant Christians agree; 35 percent disagree
* 38 percent of Catholics agree; 52 percent disagree
* 31 percent of Jewish Americans agree; 56 percent disagree
Last Days—Ideology/Party Affiliation
* 30 percent of liberal Democrats agree; 57 percent disagree
* 39 percent of self-described moderates agree; 47 percent disagree
* 51 percent of conservative Republicans agree; 39 percent disagree
Last Days—Party Affiliation
* 39 percent of Democrats agree; 47 percent disagree
* 48 percent of Republicans agree; 39 percent disagree
Last Days—Race
* 75 percent of African Americans agree; 16 percent disagree
* 39 percent of whites agree; 47 percent disagree
* 33 percent of Hispanics agree; 56 percent disagree
* 14 percent of Asians agree; 86 percent disagree
Last Days—Income
* 60 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree; 26 percent disagree
* 43 percent of Americans earning between $60,000 and $75,000 per year agree; 49 percent disagree
* 16 percent of Americans earning $100,000 or more per year agree; 77 percent disagree
Last Days—Region
* 37 percent of Americans living in the East agree; 49 percent disagree
* 39 percent of Americans living in the Midwest agree; 48 percent disagree
* 51 percent of Americans living in the South agree; 35 percent disagree
* 35 percent of Americans living in the West agree; 50 percent disagree
* 35 percent of New Englanders agree; 51 percent disagree
Last Days—Age
* 57 percent of Americans aged 18–25 agree; 39 percent disagree
* 32 percent of Gen-Xers aged 26–40 agree; 49 percent disagree
* 43 percent of Americans aged 41–55 agree; 47 percent disagree
* 42 percent of Americans aged 56–65 agree; 44 percent disagree
* 46 percent of Americans aged 65 and over agree; 39 percent disagree
Israel: A Prophecy Come True?
We asked, "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'The rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948 and the return of millions of Jews to the Holy Land after centuries in exile represent the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies.'"
* 52% of all Americans agree
* Only 22% disagree
* 26% say they don’t know
Israel Prophecy—Gender
* 54 percent of women agree; 18 percent disagree; 28 percent don’t know
* 49 percent of men agree; 27 percent disagree; 24% don’t know
Israel Prophecy—Religion
* 70 percent of evangelical/born-again Christians agree; 12 percent disagree
* 59 percent of all Protestant Christian affiliations agree; 16 percent disagree
* 52 percent of Catholics agree; 24 percent disagree
* 56 percent of Jewish Americans agree; 22 percent disagree
Israel Prophecy—Ideology/Party Affiliation
* 44 percent of liberal Democrats agree; 21 percent disagree
* 50 percent of self-described moderates agree; 28 percent disagree
* 65 percent of conservative Republicans agree; 18 percent disagree
Israel Prophecy—Party Affiliation
* 47 percent of Democrats agree; 24 percent disagree
* 61 percent of Republicans agree; 19 percent disagree
Israel Prophecy—Race
* 60 percent of African Americans agree; 17 percent disagree
* 52 percent of whites agree; 22 percent disagree
* 46 percent of Hispanics agree; 41 percent disagree
* 29 percent of Asians agree; 29 percent disagree; 43 percent don’t know
Israel Prophecy—Income
* 62 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree, 15 percent disagree
* 55 percent of Americans earning between $60,000 and $75,000 a year agree; 22 percent disagree
* 37 percent of Americans earning $100,000 or more per year agree; 37 percent disagree; 26 percent don’t know
Israel Prophecy—Region
* 45 percent of Americans living in the East agree; 29 percent disagree
* 52 percent of Americans living in the Midwest agree; 23 percent disagree
* 58 percent of Americans living in the South agree; 15 percent disagree
* 48 percent of Americans living in the West agree; 29 percent disagree
* 47 percent of New Englanders agree; 20 percent disagree
Israel Prophecy—Age
* 61 percent of Americans aged 18–25 agree; only 7 percent disagree, 32 percent don’t know
* 37 percent of Gen-Xers aged 26–40 agree; 33 percent disagree; 31 percent don’t know
* 53 percent of Americans aged 41–55 agree; 19 percent disagree
* 56 percent of Americans aged 56–65 agree; 22 percent disagree
* 59 percent of Americans aged 65 and over agree; 21 percent disagree
NOTE: The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, interviewing 1,000 randomly selected American adults (likely voters) on February 13, 2006.
To moderators: this is kind of murky as to whether it is a "news" or "religions" item. I think since it focusses on political backgrounds, it is IMHO wiser to put it on the news forum. If you feel it is not suitable, feel free to move to religion forum.
Ping!
ping
Wasn't it written somewhere something to the effect that "you'll know not the time nor the place"
I think we are already in the dark ages. I never thought I would see the things I do.
"Wasn't it written somewhere something to the effect that "you'll know not the time nor the place"
Yep. It also is written as a command for you to know the season as well...
Ping!
This Catholic believes we are.
You and me both :(.
There have always been large numbers of people who thought the end was near. I suspect they have a problem accepting the fact that the world will go on after they die.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Matthew 24:36
Those Flying Saucers
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day
It’s a sign there’s no doubt of the trouble that’s about
So I say my friends you’d better start to pray
They’re a terrifying sight as they fly on day and night
It’s a warning that we’d better mend our ways
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day
Many people think the saucers might be someone’s foolish dream
Or maybe they were sent down here from Mars
If you’ll just stop and think you’d realize just what it means
They’re more than atom bombs or falling stars
And though the war may be through there’s unrest and trouble brewin’
And those flying saucers may be just a sign
That if peace doesn’t come it will be the end of some
So repent today, you’re running out of time
When you see a saucer fly like a comet through the sky
You should realize the price you’ll have to pay
You’d better pray to the Lord when you see those flying saucers
It may be the coming of the Judgment Day
The Buchanan Brothers [1947]
((Cy Coben-Charlie Green)
RCA Victor Records #20-2385
Interesting:
-GenX isn't buying the "last days" thing.
-Women are more distinctly likely than men to believe we're in the last days.
I wonder if this is a credible poll? I've never heard of McLaughlin & Associates, but it looks like they've used a decent sized sample (1000 adults).
38 percent of Catholics agree?????
38 percent of Catholics, it would appear, need to read the Catechism.
make that "distinctly more likely"
Last days? Yes, since the Resurrection.
Very interesting. I didn't know that most Americans were even award of the claims of end times teachings, but a majority, agrees!? Amazing.
I'm a pan-millenialist...It'll all pan-out in the end.
"60 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree; 26 percent disagree"
Hasn't this more or less always been the way of thinking for poor people?
"51 percent of Americans living in the South agree; 35 percent disagree"
Gee what a shock there, huh?
award = aware
Right has become wrong, wrong has become right. That is the flag.
Christians will know it. Not the exact time Jesus returns, no, but, Christians feel it, they know. And at risk of sounding stupid, they just won't say it.
I imagine Noah felt pretty stupid in front of his peers, building an ark, in the desert. I bet there were plenty that made fun of him, but was he right? That is the question. Who is right? Who will win?
Matthew 24 addresses that. Jesus states that we can know when it's approaching but not specifially when it's going to happen.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=24&version=31
In particular verses 32-36.
32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
The world has never been more prosperous or peaceful than it is right now.
I think Catholics tend to be amillennial, IIRC.
They would believe that the world ends with a big bang after things get real bad.
I imagine the prophecies about the various Popes might have something to do with Catholic response. I remember when the cardinals were meeting after JPII died that there were a number of articles about "someone's" prophecy that there were only 2 or 3 more Popes left. I wish I could remember more about it.
This Catholic believes as well.
There's also an egotistical desire to believe there is something absolutely unique about the time one lives in, I think.
So if it is the 'last days' what does that mean? What is next? So many questions not addressed by this poll.
true , but He also said there would be signs..
Then again, many early Christians believed so too, Paul included. If you think about history and the last book, we were in the "last days" since the ascention.
Every generation asks the same question. I guess eventually they will be correct.
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self fulfilling prophesy
We are all in our last days...give or take 85 years or so - guaranteed - our last day will come sooner than we'd like.
Seeing that there is a huge age difference, income may be correlating to age rather than IQ.
Not necessarily. Most well-educated and high IQ people tend to be either unemployed "artists" or very comfortable but not necessarily wealthy research academics.
60 percent of Americans earning under $20,000 per year agree; 26 percent disagree"
Hasn't this more or less always been the way of thinking for poor people?
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and 77% of those making 100,000.00 or more disagree. I guess your perspective depends on how comfortable you are with living.
The 2 largest percentage variances are income and race, and so you can predict with a high degree of probability that a low income uneducated Black individual will agree with the statement while a high income educted Asian will disagree.
Last I remember the Second Coming is still on the Catholic doctrine. It is in a sense, an "end times" season.
Unless you deny Jesus will come again, I can't see why the statement "This is NOT the End Times" will be valid.
Religion also plays a factor. By definition, there is of course no such concept of End Times in the Christian sense among Asians who are either secular materialists/atheists (for those who come from mainland China) or Buddhists (Taiwanese).
Earnings are highly correlated to IQ and education, so we can infer that the more educated and intelligent you are the more you are likely to disagree with the statements.
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Or perhaps the more you are enjoying this life the less likely you are to be welcoming the next.
According to Jesus himself, all true Christians are born again Christians.
John ch 3:v 5-7, "Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
Since Jesus said that himself I don't see why the term "born again" is so objectionable to many professing Christians.
"So if it is the 'last days' what does that mean? What is next? So many questions not addressed by this poll."
Maybe you need to dust off your bible and find out.
St. Paul said we are living in the last days 2000 years ago.
I believe we are and have been for some time. No one is quite certain when the actual last day will be however.
That would mean that Asians the happiest people on earth and Blacks the most miserable?
MATTHEW 19:23 Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
Well I can think of three counterexamples at least,
1. Li Ka-shing didn't even have a formal school education,
2. Bill Gates is a college droupout,
3. Richard Branson is a secondary school dropout
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