Opinion: Study finds religious Americans more tolerant of other faiths

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Religion has been no small issue in the 2007-08 presidential campaigns and that’s unlikely to change in the dwindling months remaining until the Nov. 4 decision day.

Many Americans have strong religious beliefs, according to a new study. But the majority remains open to interpretations of the teachings of their faith and believes in more than one way to salvation, according to the new research from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Seventy percent of people surveyed with a religious affiliation reported that many religions can lead to eternal life.

Researchers examined Americans’ religious beliefs and political attitudes in the second part of a huge study on major religions in the United States.

‘The fact that most Americans are not exclusive or dogmatic about their religion is a fascinating finding,’ said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum.

‘Most people will be surprised that a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including a majority of evangelical Protestants, say that there isn’t just one way to salvation or to interpret the teachings of their own faith.’

The study also found that politics and religion is intertwined, with Mormons among the most politically conservative and Jews, Buddhists and Hindus among the most liberal.

Katie Fretland has a full version of this study over at the Swamp.

-- Andrew Malcolm