A majority of Americans believe that America’s founding fathers wrote Christianity into the Constitution, a new poll reveals.
The survey by the First Amendment Center, a non-partisan educational group, found that 55 percent of respondents erroneously believe the Constitution establishes a Christian nation. Three out of four people who say they are evangelical or Republican feel that way, while only about half of Democrats and independents agree.
The poll also found that only 56 percent think freedom of religion applies to all groups “regardless of how extreme their beliefs are.” That’s down from 72 percent in a similar poll in 2000.
“We are seeing the product of years of not teaching the First Amendment at a young age,” said Gene Policinski, the center’s executive director.
Other poll results reported by USA Today include:
58 percent of respondents said teachers in public schools should be permitted to lead prayers. Half said teachers should be allowed to use the Bible as a factual source in history class. 43 percent said public schools should be permitted to put on Nativity re-enactments – up from 36 percent in 2005.
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