Religious Practices Down in America in Past Decade

Many religous ideals and core tenets of social conservatism have grown less common in America over the past decade, according to figures just released by the Pew Center for People and the Press.

Here are the percentage of people who say they "completely agreed" with the following statements since the poll began in 1987:

"Prayer is an important part of my daily life"

1987: 41

1999: 55 (peak)

2007: 45

"We all will be called before God at the Judgement Day to answer for our sins."

1987: 52

1997: 64 (peak)

2007: 54

"I never doubt the existence of God"

1987: 60

1994: 72 (peak)

2007: 61

"School boards ought to have the right to fire teachers who are known homosexuals"

1987: 27

1988/1990: 29 (peaks)

2007: 18

"Books that contain dangerous ideas should be banned from public school libraries"

1987: 24

1999: 36

2007: 30

Full results--and many more questions--are available here. (Religious question begin on page 99 of the pdf file)

--Chris Wilson

Etc.: Q&A: What Americans Don't Know About Religion Could Fill a Book, on USNews.com