Americans still believe Jesus rose from the dead

ASBURY PARK, N.J. (Christian Examiner) – In spite of assertions Christianity is declining in America, a new Rasmussen survey shows disbelief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ has not kept pace with religious dissatisfaction and the outflow from mainline Protestant denominations.

According to the results of the telephone survey of 1,000 Americans conducted by a Rasmussen partner from March 22-23 – just before Easter weekend – "belief in Jesus Christ's resurrection is even higher this Easter."

The survey indicated that 77 percent of American adults still "believe Jesus Christ was the son of God sent to Earth to die for our sins. Fourteen percent don't believe that to be true." 

The survey asked the same two questions it has asked to random survey participants every year – questions about Jesus's divinity and the central proposition of the Christian faith, that Jesus Christ was raised from the tomb on the Sunday after his crucifixion.

There is, however, some flexibility in the numbers. In 2013, the number of Americans who said they strongly believed in the resurrection of Christ stood at only 64 percent. Three years ago, 19 percent rejected the idea of the bodily resurrection of Christ, while another 17 percent said they were unsure.

In the year prior, 2012, the survey said American's belief in the divinity of Jesus remained strong, with 86 percent of adults believing that Jesus was an actual person and not a myth. According to the same survey, 77 percent said they believed Jesus was raised from the dead.

The findings of the newest survey met with mixed reaction on the survey company's Facebook page. One commenter said the survey proved "3/4 of Americans [are] gullible and willfully uneducated." Another claimed there is "not a shred of proof he was God or any of that nonsense."

Others, however, were more supportive of the survey findings.

"He rose from being dead, ascended into heaven where he is alive – sitting at the right hand of God his father, who gave him all power both in heaven and in earth," one person wrote.