the Apocalypse, by popular demand

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jun 23, 2010

A Pew Research Center poll finds that 41% of all Americans believe that Jesus Christ will return by the year 2050.

That’s an interesting datum, insofar as it offers a glimpse of American religious beliefs. But coming as it does, in the middle of a report in which average Americans offer their predictions about the economy, the environment, and the political world, the poll on the Parousia strikes an odd note. Public attitudes help shape the economy, and public opinion drives politics in a democracy. But public opinion won’t affect the timing of the Second Coming. There’s only one opinion that matters, and He wasn’t included in the pollsters’ sample.

Pew also offers this tidbit:

On a related subject, 65% of Americans say that religion in the United States will be about as important as it is now in 40 years; 30% say religion will become less important.

That 30%, I’m guessing, is made up of people who were not included among the 41% who expect the Second Coming—an event that is 100% certain to increase the importance of religious belief.

[Hat tip to Zoe Romanowsky, Inside Catholic.]