Religion

The evangelicals are the dominate, nonRCC population in the US. Mainline is roughly half of what they are (actually probably closer to 30/50) The point is, if one knows much about the theology of mainline christians, the results of that survey don't really match the theology. Roughly half of the mainline would have to hold conservative points of view despite the theology of their organized religion. That would be a large number. Probably what one is seeing is that the vast majority of Mainline christians were uncomfortable with the questions and gave the more conservative answer, in absence of the ability to contribute nuance. That of course includes a large number of people who have a poor understanding of their own organized religions understanding of the theology so they gave some boilerplate response that is more connected to their politics, than their theology.

And in a way that is politically much of what we are challenged. People who have more of a political point of view of their own faith than theological. As such, arguing the theology is irrelevant. I was in a discussion with a relatively knowledgeable southern baptish about global warming and the EPA in general. I pointed out that within his theology, the earth was a gift from God and we were sworn to care for it as the gift from God that it was. He actually agreed. The definition of "caring for it" became the conversation, but it did take a crap load of objections off the table.