God’s Approval Rating?

Posted by jrosenhouse on July 27, 2011
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I’m not quire sure what what to make of this. t doesn’t appear to be from The Onion.

More than half of U.S. voters approve of God’s job performance, according to a new poll, making God more popular than all members of Congress.

The poll — which was conducted by the Democratic research firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) — surveyed 928 people and found that 52 percent of Americans approved of God’s overall dealings, while only 9 percent disapproved.

Questions about God were asked as part of a larger survey assessing American opinions of congressional leaders in the midst of the ongoing debt ceiling debate in Washington.

Skipping ahead:

The poll also gauged God’s handling of specific “issues.” When asked to rate God on the creation of the universe, 71 percent of voters approved and only 5 percent disapproved. Respondents were also generally appreciative of God’s governance of the “animal kingdom,” with 56 percent approving and 11 percent disapproving.

Younger respondents were more critical of God’s handling of natural disasters, with those ages 18-29 expressing a 26 percent disapproval rating, compared to 12 percent disapproval among those 65 and older.

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Comments

  1. #1 Robert Lundgren
    July 27, 2011

    Oh, the absurdity of it all!

  2. #2 Alec
    July 27, 2011

    What’s the point of this poll? It’s not like you can vote God out. He has been appointed Benevolent Dictator for Eternity.

  3. #3 Eric R
    July 27, 2011

    In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move

  4. #4 J. Quinton
    July 27, 2011

    You know you’re dealing with a tough crowd when even imaginary entities who you can make up any excuse whatsoever for why they are doing things right and why they aren’t really accountable (and the entity is unable to correct you) can’t get above a 60% overall approval rating.

  5. #5 Pierce R. Butler
    July 27, 2011

    I dunno – what’s his deficit reduction plan?

    Does he have a proposal to revive the Middle East peace process?

    And is he the sort of guy you want to drink a beer with?

  6. #6 Tonya
    July 27, 2011

    I’d fire the deity…or at least some documented write ups following a probationary period where I think ultimately the dismissal would be inevitable.

  7. #7 nice_marmot
    July 27, 2011

    In related news, 72% of U.S. voters approve of The Easter Bunny’s egg-hiding performance.

  8. #8 Cuttlefish
    July 27, 2011

    They measured the level of God’s popularity
    A bare fifty-two point approval
    I wonder, of course, what might be the disparity
    If our votes could demand His removal

  9. #9 JimR
    July 28, 2011

    The comment appears to be real. Fromm PPP’s own website I found this referral to a NewsMax link:
    http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/God-approval-poll-creator/2011/07/24/id/404610
    which includes the line:
    “With the ground rules established — and let’s just stipulate that the Creator exists, even if PPP won’t — the July 15-17 survey of 928 voters found God receiving a solid 59-9 percent approval rating overall.”
    Looks like 32% had no opinion.

  10. #10 James Sweet
    July 28, 2011

    I’d fire the deity…or at least some documented write ups following a probationary period where I think ultimately the dismissal would be inevitable.

    Nice try, but Jesus heads up the HR dep’t, so his dad Yahweh is totally covered. Nepotism’s a bitch.

    Not helping matters is that Diety, Inc., does its performance reviews on a 1000-year basis. God the Father doesn’t come up for review again for another 989 years!

  11. #11 Darth Dog
    July 28, 2011

    This cries out for a Mr. Deity episode.

  12. #12 Philby
    July 28, 2011

    I think that most people who believe in this god thing (which is an unfortunately large number) are just too afraid to vote against the being who can send them to hell.

  13. #13 Lenoxus
    July 30, 2011

    I was very surprised by how low the approval is, since a far higher percentage of Americans are part of one or another religion in which God’s perfection is a fundamental tenet. My guess is that many responders were confused or offended by such a question and its placement next to the same question asked of mere human politicians. And of course they probably felt it would be wrong to judge God; atheists are told as much all the time, and at least a refusal to approve of him (though inconsistent with the entire theology) is consistent with their demand that we never disapprove.

  14. #14 mikmik
    August 4, 2011

    As for His Handling of the animal kingdom, Australia remains as an embarrassing mark on His service record, and let’s not mention the dinosaur debacle.

  15. #15 Lorraine O'Connor
    August 4, 2011

    “God’s perfection?” What exactly has this “God” ever done for any of the inhabitants on this weenie little planet, except to con human beings into believing he actually made our teeny planet, set it down in a tiny spot in an endless universe and invisibly took credit for every living being on this now doomed home we call Earth.

    How can any so-called members of Earth’s “superior species” believe such nonsense? Not once, in who knows how many millenium, has “religion” done one single thing to advance the liberties and pursuit of happiness for the species who “adore” him….Religion does nothing.

    If God ever had to receive a job evaluation by his organizations’ HR personnel, he would be fired immediately. Especially in the business of assuming human beings would lovingly guard the rights and welfare of every living creature (non-humans, including Republicans) and not allow the “superior” specie be in charge of animal welfare rights. Monstrous cruelty to animals on this earth is beyond description. Nice work, **GOD** !!!

  16. #16 Leon
    August 12, 2011

    Every non-suicide is a vote of approval.

  17. #17 alüminyum
    August 12, 2011

    I don’t support the argument, just trying to point out that Coyne isn’t really addressing the issue from a sophisticated theist point of view.

  18. #18 Wow
    August 12, 2011

    “Every non-suicide is a vote of approval.”

    Only if you’re a believer.

    And every believer who wants the doctor to save their life, or make a cure or help them get better is a vote of no confidence.