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Terrorism Alerts Leave Americans Feeling Vulnerable: New Report Says Many Adults Respond To Terrorism By "Living As My Faith Requires"

Many Americans feel nervous and vulnerable at this time of "ORANGE ALERT" and "Current Threat Level: HIGH" (January 7, 2004, update at http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland). Some react with panic to the realization: "Oh, no, my plane [or the Golden Gate Bridge , or this high-profile event] might be hit by terrorists! I didn't say good-bye to my friends. I need to do something about the God part." Anti-terrorism efforts, however effective, do not make us feel safe.

A new report from the Barnabas Institute, a nondenominational religious organization based in San Rafael, Calif., offers insight and provides answers about how Americans respond to the threat of terrorism. The report will be a continuing resource for journalists as well as for those who plan activities related to religion or spirituality.

For 3,000 survey respondents, the report analyzes demographics, faith background, active involvement in faith, religious activities, and even Internet use. Survey findings include the following:

• Four out of ten of the adults polled said they are more concerned about the religious or spiritual side of their lives since 9/11.
• Two-thirds of those who are thinking more about the spiritual side are doing something to be more spiritual.
• The most common action, mentioned by 94% of those seeking to be more spiritual, was "Trying harder to live as my faith requires."
• Among the 40% of the population who said they are not actively involved in any faith now, more than one in four said they are thinking more about the spiritual.

Read Excerpts or Purchase the Report
Excerpts of the report are available without charge from the Institute's web site. To purchase the complete report, go to www.barnabasinstitute.org.; or call 1-800-459-3877; or write to the Barnabas Institute, 2442 Cerrillos Rd., Suite 179, Santa Fe, NM 87505