Maybe we aren’t as profane a people as some would have us believe, or even as many of us believe ourselves.

Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, the criticism of American culture reached an all-time high. Everywhere there was introspection about the way we were viewed, about how spoiled and pampered our success has made us, and how materialistic we have become.

New polling research released last week, though, sheds a different light on Americans. For the first time in 50 years, a large majority of Americans say religion is gaining influence in public life. In March, 37 percent of Americans said religion was important in public life; by the end of this year, the percentage had risen to 78 percent and was spread among all demographic groups.

The findings come from the Pew Center for the People and the Press.

What was striking about the survey results — and indeed puzzling to the researchers — is this: people are not attending church any more often than before Sept. 11. The polls showed that only among the already religious is attendance at organized church activities increasing. Only four in 10 attend church regularly, yet nearly double that percentage say religion is gaining important in public life.

I don’t understand why the pollsters were confused. Death, war and tough economic times make people think about spiritual matters, and whether one is Christian, Muslim, Jew or an adherent of some personally fashioned belief is irrelevant. We are looking for meaning, and for most of us that leads to matters of faith.

And the number of Americans who follow their own personal brand of “religion” is growing. There are many followers of organized religious denominations who have a hard time believing that people can indeed be spiritual and not go to church. Here in America, though, we know this to be true because the evidence is overwhelming.

During this time of war and suffering, I myself can reel off a list of close friends whose bottoms seldom or never touch the hardwood pews of any church but who are as moral, ethical and honest as any churchgoer, people who are seriously pondering the important questions of these days. Those same friends are very spiritual and believe strongly in a similar set of beliefs as those that provide the foundation of the world’s major religions. They are religious and spiritual, yet belong to no major denomination. They, I believe, are the same people who sent the recent poll results through the roof.

The report found another trend that surprised some — other religions besides conservative Christians and Catholics are finding their voice. The report suggests that a much more diverse group of religious groups are joining the debates on morality and politics, adding new voices and perspectives to the national debate.

We all have seen this. In the past, TV newspeople would cut to an evangelical Christian like Jerry Falwell or a Catholic priest when they wanted the view of “religious” people. Now, Muslims, rabbis and even Hindus are getting equal play.

In fact, the poll found that as Americans have learned more about Muslims and Islam, positive perceptions have gone up. Seventy-three percent of Americans with some knowledge of Islam have a favorable view, compared with 53 percent of those who say they know little about the religion. It took a terrorist atrocity for many Americans to learn about Islam, but we have found that it is not what militants proclaim it to be.

It’s just one of the thousands of polls conducted in this country, but this one should cheer us as we head toward Christmas. During the holiday season, most Americans are awash in our peculiar mix of religion and materialism, of spiritual yearning, gift giving and excessive behavior. More of us are thinking about religion than we have in a long time, though, and doing so with a more open attitude about others. On any level that’s a reassuring thought.

(McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

 

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