Americans define faith their way

0 Comments | USA TODAY, September, 2006 | by Cathy Lynn Grossman

The most comprehensive national religion survey to date, written and analyzed by sociologists at Baylor University and conducted by Gallup, finds that Americans don't see themselves the way the media, politicians or even religion experts do. USA TODAY religion writer Cathy Lynn Grossman examines some of the survey's far-reaching -- and controversial -- findings.

Who will get into heaven? Americans clearly believe in heaven and salvation -- they just don't agree on who's eligible. The Baylor Religion Survey finds that most Americans (58.3%) agree with the statement "many religions lead to salvation." "People clearly are not holding an exclusivist view," says Baylor sociologist Kevin Dougherty. Some may wonder whether respondents thought the question referred only to other...