87% know someone who is Catholic
77% know someone who is Not Religious
70% know someone who is Evangelical
61% know someone who is Jewish
59% know someone who is Atheist
44% know someone who is Mormon
38% know someone who is Muslim
23% know someone who is Buddhist
22% know someone who is Hindu
(Hmmm, they left out non-Evangelical Protestants and some other kinds of Christians in their survey.)
Some people just don’t want to commit all the way to a pollster (atheists are reviled by many, and some maybe just won’t say it). And some are likely agnostic. I suppose there could truly be some who are “a-religious” – literally have no opinion whatsoever on it…
“Not religious” means “does not believe in or practice any religion” in the survey. Of course, that probably does not really answer the questions people have about that category.
“Not religious” probably means that they do not believe in God or practice a religion. Atheists state that there is no God. Subtle but significant difference, in that not religious do not deny the existence of a god, but choose not to worship/serve a god.
I’m Jewish, but don’t believe in God, don’t go to temple, don’t keep kosher, wasn’t a bat mitsvah and only do the food holidays (Hanukkah and Passover and we go to break fast on Yom Kippur even though we don’t fast.) What category would I be in?
@emilybee I suspect that if the Census Bureau allowed people to check two or more boxes, they’d find that the number of atheists/non religious people in the US would increase dramatically. I’m in essentially the same religious boat as you and always check Jewish since it is a strong cultural identity for me.
Yes, I always answer that I am Jewish when asked, “what are you?” But, in my experience, except for Jewish people, others usually answer that same question with, “Irish”, “Italian”, German", etc.
I’m not surprised there are people who don’t know someone who is Catholic personally. I don’t know anyone personally who is Evangelical or Mormon - but I can name many prominent members of both faiths.
I know several from each group, except evangelical Christian. I suppose if you are from a very religious-based area (Mormons in small town Utah, Hassisdic Jews in monroe, ny, Amish) it possible not to know a catholic well enough to know they are catholic.
Not trying to start a fight, I have a real question: Do Mormons count as Evangelical Christians for this survey? There’s some debate as to whether or not they should be considered Christians, let alone Evangelicals. I don’t know any Evangelicals, but I do know a few Mormons.
I also happen to know someone from every single group, except Evangelical (unless Mormons count).
Throughout the South there are small towns where no Catholic has ever lived. My mother grew up in one and the nearest Catholic church is still an hour away. I’ve met people who don’t know, or don’t know that they know, any Catholics, or Jewish people or anyone who isn’t either Southern Baptist or non-denominational “Bible believing” (as they call themselves) church members.
I couldn’t find the exact wording of the question proposed but it might be based on people considering what constitutes “knowing” someone differently. Do I know someone I worked with years ago but never talked to since?
Additionally, it’s unclear if Muslim refers to NOI or what I’ll call “standard” Islam. I would imagine opinions of the two would differ greatly.
I’d have assumed it meant does believe in God but does not practice a religion.
It’s referring to your religion/belief in God, so Atheist would probably be most appropriate. .