How Americans View God

The Baylor Religion Survey "is the most extensive and sensitive study of religion ever conducted," aiming to go beyond just whether someone goes to church or believes in God, but probing attitudes about God. In 2006, they released some interesting findings:

One area that emerged from the survey that has excited the researchers is what they call the "Four Gods." Depending on how engaged people think God is in the world and how angry God is with the world.

"If you think about people perceiving God as high in anger, low in anger, high in engagement, low in engagement, it results in four different types of gods," said Froese...

The data showed:

• 31.4 percent believe in an Authoritarian God, who is very judgmental and engaged

• 25 percent believe in a Benevolent God, who is not judgmental but engaged

• 23 percent believe in a Distant God, who is completely removed

• 16 percent believe in a Critical God, who is judgmental but not engaged