Survey illuminates views of atheists and believers
By K. Connie Kang, Times Staff Writer
June 16, 2007

This has been a busy week in the faith community — a time of national meetings, grappling with divisive issues and the release of a public opinion poll on perceptions about "radical Christianity."

The nationwide survey by the Ventura-based Barna Group reported that 56% of atheists and agnostics believe that "radical Christianity is just as threatening in America as is radical Islam."

The independent marketing firm, which has tracked trends relating to beliefs, values and behaviors since 1984, looked at the beliefs of agnostics and atheists and compared them to believers over a two-year period.

The survey of 1,055 people indicated that atheists and agnostics tend to be younger and are more often male and single. Six percent of those 61 and older identified themselves as atheist or agnostic; 9% of those 42 to 60, 14% of those 23 to 41 and 19% of people 18 to 22 also identified themselves as atheist or agnostic. the rest