The virgin birth of Jesus
Beliefs of Christian clergy & public.
Alternate explanations of Jesus birth.
Sponsored link.
Beliefs of Christian clergy:
We have found three polls of Christian ministers, pastors, and priests. For
some reason, data is more easily obtained from the UK than from the U.S.:
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1998: A poll of 7,441 Protestant clergy in the U.S. showed a wide variation in belief. The following
ministers did not believe in the virgin birth:
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American Lutherans 19% |
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American Baptists 34% |
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Episcopalians 44% |
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Presbyterians 49% |
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Methodists 60% 1 |
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1999: A poll of 103 Roman Catholic priests, Anglican priests, and
Protestant ministers/pastors in the UK found that about 25% did not believe in the
virgin
birth. Yet, 97% of the same group do not believe the world was created in six days, and 80% do not believe
in the literal existence of Adam and Eve. 3 | |
2002: Another poll of 140 Church of
England (Anglican) clergy found that 27% do not believe in the virgin
birth. The pollsters reported: |
"...one Hampshire vicar was typical: 'There was nothing
special about his birth or his childhood - it was his adult life that
was extraordinary....I have a very traditional bishop and this is one of
those topics I do not go public on. I need to keep the job I have got.'
John Roberts, spokesperson for the Lord's Day Observance Society,
said: 'If you take away the virgin birth you might as well take away
the entire Christian message. The miracle of the Christian faith is that
God came down to us. If you lose that miracle you lose the resurrection
and everything else'." 6
|
2004: A poll of ministers of the
Church of Scotland found that 37% do not believe in the virgin birth. Many
believe that the virgin birth should be
interpreted metaphorically rather than as a description of an actual event."
Times Online reported that: |
"There was a
geographical split with most ministers in the Highlands and islands
favouring a literal interpretation while those in the central belt were
more sceptical." 8
Beliefs of the general U.S. public:
There is a massive gap between the beliefs of mainline and liberal clergy and their
congregations:
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1994 to 2003: The Harris Poll®
has conducted many opinion polls to determine the religious beliefs of
American adults. The following do believe in the virgin birth:
| Date of poll |
All adults |
Christians |
Non-Christians |
Men |
Women |
Republicans |
Democrats |
Independents |
| 1994 |
78% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| 1998-JUL |
83% |
91% |
47% |
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|
|
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| 2000-SEP 2 |
82% |
91% |
43% |
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