This includes 28% who favor it over the will of the people
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April 15, 2020
** Religion & Public Life
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** Half of Americans say Bible should influence U.S. laws, including 28% who favor it over the will of the people ([link removed])
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The U.S. Constitution does not mention the Bible, God, Jesus or Christianity, and the First Amendment clarifies that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Still, some scholars have argued that the Bible heavily influenced America’s founders. Today, about half of Americans (49%) say the Bible should have at least “some” influence on U.S. laws, including nearly a quarter (23%) who say it should have “a great deal” of influence, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey ([link removed]) .
All survey respondents who said the Bible should have at least “some” influence on U.S. laws were asked a follow-up question: When the Bible and the will of the people conflict, which should have more influence on U.S. laws? About two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants (68%) and half of black Protestants (50%) say the Bible should take precedence over the will of the people in this area.
** Media mentions
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Pandemic raises the stakes in U.S.’ partisan religious divide ([link removed])
April 14 - CNN
During coronavirus crisis, Congress’ first caucus for nonreligious belief seeks a larger role in promoting science ([link removed])
April 9 - The Washington Post *
** In the news
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Justice Department takes church’s side in 1st Amendment suit ([link removed])
April 15 - The Associated Press
The plight of a hospital chaplain during a pandemic ([link removed])
April 14 - The New Yorker *
Opposition to Samaritan’s Purse Central Park field hospital grows ([link removed])
April 14 - Religion News Service
UK Labour leader launches ‘urgent’ inquiry into anti-Semitism report ([link removed])
April 14 - BBC News
Child sex abuse in Pakistan’s religious schools is endemic ([link removed])
April 13 - The Associated Press
The Trump campaign wants to win the votes of evangelicals of color ([link removed])
April 13 - The Washington Post *
‘God is with us’: Many Muslims in Pakistan flout the coronavirus ban in mosques ([link removed])
April 13 - Reuters
On Easter Sunday, Christians remember: ‘We will rise out of the dust’ ([link removed])
April 12 - The New York Times *
In cities across the world, a different Easter, lonelier and live-streamed ([link removed])
April 12 - The Washington Post *
In India, coronavirus fans religious hatred ([link removed])
April 12 - The New York Times *
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© 2020 Pew Research Center
