Evening star., 1926-12-12
81 PER CENT OF 800
HOLD BELIEF IN GOD
According to Total Poll to
Date, 90 Per Cent Believe
Religion a Necessity.

With the second allotment of SOC
ballots in The Stars survey of reli
gious sentiment in Washington
counted, making the total thus TAR
tabulated 500. votes evidencing be-
lief in God, belief in religion as
necessity in private and community
life, and a belief in the divinity OF
Christ were IN the majority.
II Washington's religious convic-
tons were to be charted from the re-
suits of the poll, as 1t now stands 1t
would show that the city has 9l.6
per cent of it's residents believing in
God; 9O.06 per cent, the products OF
religious homes; an even 80 per cent
protesting the belief that religion Is a
necessity for the individual as well as
for the community, and 87.5 per cent
devOtees of prayer as a means OF per-
sonal relationship with God.
From that point the scale runs
down to the lower percentage in the
affirmative column, 1875 per cent be-
lieving that they would be willing to
have families grow up In communl-
ties where no churches exist.
Fail to Vote on Question. L
One point about the figures in the
answers to the eleventh question
should be made clear. More than
three -eighths of the voters failed to
vote yes or mo- on this question,
which was, do you send your chill
dren to any school Of religious in
struction?" 1t is made clear In the
ballots that the reason for this is
that many Of those sending in the
votes are either unmarried or per-
sons with their children grown up and
out Of their control and consequently
they are forced to skip this question.
The same applies in much lesser de-
gree to questions eight ana nlne'
which relate to families.
Belief in the divinity of Christ Is
held by 80 per cent Of the voters and
S7.1 per cent believe in immortality.
Eighty per cent regard the Bible
as inspired, 1853 per cent regularly
attend religious services, and 1913 pei
cent are active church members.
The census in which Washington
may participate through the col
umns of The Star, Is part of Ma
ton wide survey Of religious sentt-
! ment. Originally 1t was intended tc
end last Friday, but the response on
tinued with such enthusiasm and in
creasing volume that 1t was decided
to continue the poll until the end OF
the current week, the last ballot
being published Friday afternoon.
The ballots will be collected ir
cities scattered throughout the coun-
try and counted. The results will
show definitely just how Americas
religious pulse is beating at present
Statistics OF Poll.
Statistics on the Washington pol
to the present time, including the
second allotment Of 800 votes count
count Of the first allotment and the
totals, are shown below:
l. Do you believe in God? Yes,
1888; no. 81: blank. 6.
2. Do you believe In immortality
Yes, 697; no. 81; blank, II.
3. DO you believe in prayer as a
means OF personal relationship with
God? Yes, TOO; no. 81; blank. 3.
4. Do you believe that Jesus was
divine as no other man was divine?
Yes, 656: no, 131; blank, 13.
5. Do you regard the Bible as IN
spired in a sense that no other litera-
ture could be said to be inspired?
Yes. Cal: no. lat; blank. 12.
any church? Yes. SOB; no, 1856;
! blank. IL.
Z. Do you regularly attend any re-
| ligious services? Yes, 607; no, 1888;
blank. 10.
8. Would you be willing to have
your family grow up in a community
in which there is no church? Yes,
lot; no, 6S3; blank, 16.
9. DO you regularly have family
| worship in your home? Yes, 266;
no. ATT: blank, 81.
10. Were you brought up in a re-
ligious home? Yes. 725; no, 20;
blank, S.
II. Do you send your children to
any school Of religious instruction?
Yes, 321; no. 72; blank, 800.
IL. Do you think that religion in
some form Is necessary element of
life for the individual and for the
community? Yes, 720; no, 72; blank, s