Religion in California and elsewhere a "spiritual salad bar"

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Nearly half of Californians say religion is an important part of their lives but they are less likely to pray and attend services than Americans in other parts of the country, according to a national survey on religion.The report, released this week, also reflects a growing acceptance of diverse religious beliefs. Seventy percent of those interviewed who are affiliated with a religion said many faiths -- not just their own -- can lead to eternal life. Fifty-seven percent of evangelicals, 79 percent of Catholics and 82 percent of Jews agreed with this statement.More than 35,000 people across the country were polled for the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, considered the most comprehensive report on religious beliefs and practices in the United States in recent years. The first part of the study, which identified religious affiliation, was released in February.For this survey, Americans were polled on everything from their belief in miracles (79 percent do) to the existence of angels and demons (68 percent) to how often God answers their prayers (31 percent say once a month).Researchers, who called this "a snapshot of religious life in America," said they were surprised by the large number of people who have a non- dogmatic view of religion."This is consistent with religious diversity in the United States," said Greg Smith, a research fellow with the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which produced the report. "More people are interacting with people of other faiths -- four in 10 are married to someone from a different faith background. These are all pieces to the puzzle.""What this shows is the ability of Americans to hold contradictory beliefs and not be bothered by it," said D. Michael Lindsay, sociology professor at Rice University in Houston."How else do you explain the number of Orthodox who speak in tongues -- a Pentecostal practice -- or Jews who read the Bible?" Lindsay asked. "People are picking and choosing. It's a spiritual salad bar."An overwhelming majority of Americans -- 74 percent -- believe in life after death. The same percentage says heaven is where people are eternally rewarded for leading good lives. Fewer people, however, believe in hell -- 59 percent.These contradictory views concern some faith leaders."How can you believe what the Bible says about heaven and not what it says about hell?" asked the Rev. Michael Lamb, a Baptist pastor from Sacramento. He also said evangelicals should not believe there are many paths to eternal life.Lamb blames evangelical church leaders for "soft-pedaling a lot of the harder issues" about the faith. "A lot of people going to church don't even know what the church believes," he said.The report dispels the stereotype that people who are committed to their faith are intolerant, according to Lindsay. "We believe they are open to everything," he said. "And it shows."Lindsay said that as many European countries become more secular, the United States is becoming more ecumenical. The number and diversity of faiths are influencing how religion is practiced. "And California is even more so."Though about half of the Californians surveyed say their religion is very important to them (48 percent, compared with 56 percent nationally), they practice their beliefs less than the rest of the country.Thirty-three percent of Californians attend worship services at least once a week, compared with 39 percent nationally.Fifty-two percent of those interviewed in California said they pray at least once a day, compared with 58 percent nationally. In 1994, the number of Americans who said they prayed daily was 75 percent, according to Lindsay.California has traditionally polled lower in religion surveys. Experts attribute this to a number of factors, ranging from an aversion to religious institutions to the acceptance of alternative spiritual beliefs."They may be praying less," said Lindsay. "But meditating more."E-mail Jennifer Garza at jgarza(at)sacbee.com(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)