Survey sheds light on American Christian perspective.

Posted: 2/7/05 at 2:58pm

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7400529

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:27pm

These surveys actually tell us very little. A population of only 1500 people is very miniscule.

Who were the "Christians" that were surveyed? Were they Southern Baptists or Northeast Catholics? Both of those groups consider themselves Christians, but have very different viewpoints. I'm surprised Reuters published this as it has very little merit.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:42pm

Actually Gothamp, these surveys tell us a lot. Almost all surveys in America are taken of 1500 people or fewer. They've been scientifically proven as effective or more effective than census data anyway. True, there are obvious problems (people who use cell phones as their primary phones aren't contacted, as well as people with no phones) but that's the point of a margin of error. This survey would be as accurate as any other.
Now, of course, the survey could have many, many other problems that the article doesn't address (how did they do the telephone sampling, for instance? There are many ways to do it, and some are better than others) but the size of the sample is not a problem.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:46pm

Size queens!

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:48pm

Oh how I've missed the board these last 5 weeks...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:48pm

There is no standard deviation information given to us. Without that information, the number of people surveyed doesn't really mean much.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:53pm

Have you ever read a main-stream article with the s.d. number in it? No one reports standard deviations. It's not even really that relevant to this survey.

Edit: Wait, before you comment on what I said (because I realize I didn't say it very well.) Standard deviations apply to how many in a group would be w/in one s.d. of the mean. So if the mean height is 6 feet, then in a normal distribution, 68% of people would be within one s.d. (say, 3 inches) of that height. How does that apply to this survey? 68% of people fall within 2 scripture passages of reading a book of the Bible a day? I don't understand your s.d. comment, is what I'm saying (sorry, not a lot of sleep last night, I'm still on Africa time.)

Updated On: 2/7/05 at 03:53 PM

Posted: 2/7/05 at 3:56pm

Gotham - I would think you'ld be somewhat pleased to see these results. Or were you thinking they should be higher?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:00pm

Well they sure as hell ain't higher else there are more hypocrites in this country then you can count.

SOMEBODY'S buying all that porn and pot!

[Jacques_Clouseau]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:02pm

I'll bring the porn.

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:08pm

Jerby - I used to have a priest friend who made me swear that if anything ever happened to him I'd go get his bag of porn and paraphrenalia out of his room. They're not mutually exclusive.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:09pm

Of course I know that!

But it IS hypocritical.

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:12pm

And that would be why he USED to be a friend.

[Jacques_Clouseau]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:17pm

Eek.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:17pm

The point being that "Church going Americans" is a very loose term. Southern Baptists will give different answers than Northeastern Catholics. Both of those groups consider themselves "Christians". So this article doesn't really shed any light on the American Christian perspective because it doesn't acknowledge differences within the "Christian" population.

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 4:19pm

True, but what does that have to do w/standard deviations? Or did you just want to throw out a term to see if I knew it?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 7:36pm

I just love how Gotham tried to sound like he knew what he was talking about, and Jess shot him down!

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 8:28pm

I have missed you Jess...Welcome Back!!!!

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 9:17pm

Ah, thanks guys! I missed you all so much, you have no idea. In a couple days when I've got my stuff together, I'll do a formal "I'm back" with a report of my amazing-beyond-words trip, but I couldn't stay out of this conversation. First full day back, and I'm already arguing with Gothamp. Ah, good times...