I think that the results shown by this poll are actually healthy. I think everyone has doubts at one time or another about things they believe in, and the constant re-evaluation of one’s beliefs — keeping them in mind and being willing to think critically about how they mesh with the world around you — is the mark of a thoughtful, intelligent person. This also gives the lie to those who accuse churches of being made up only of blind ideologues who insist on their beliefs without listening to others.
I am, however, very curious about what inspired Harris Poll to do the survey, particularly at a time when their services are in such demand for the election coming up. Was this privately commissioned, or was it just an idea somebody had for a neat poll? Either way, the results bear thinking about.
Archive for November 1st, 2006
American Doubt
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006John Kerry Strikes!
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006Sometimes you have to wonder if John Kerry is a Republican plant in the Democratic Party. I mean, he just hands the Republicans talking points left and right. Like this whole thing for example. I suspect he’s telling the truth and he meant it as an insult to Bush and not to American troops, but as can easily happen with negative campaigning, the insult missed the target and hit somebody innocent, and now the fur is flying on both sides. This is what I meant about the car-crash quality of election campaigns — at this point we’re all rubbernecking.