IS GOD DEAD? About a decade ago, I read an article in Newsweek magazine entitled, "Is God Dead?" At that time, the Newsweek poll indicated there was a general disenchantment with a belief in a God as the prime mover of the universe. Today, many people wonder whether America is fast becoming a secular nation bereft of Christian or any moral principles. The signs are everywhere. Recently, a poll completed for US NEWS magazine, found that a majority of Americans believed this to be true. When asked, "Is religion increasing or losing its influence on American life?" 21% said it is increasing, and 65% it was losing its influence. Interestingly enough, when individuals were asked, "And personally for you, has religion been increasing or losing its influence in your life?" the opposite was found to be true. Sixty-two percent responded that it was increasing, and only 16% said it was decreasing. This dichotomy may be what is contributing to the confusion we experience when we watch the national, state, and local news and wonder whether or not people have any morals left. I wonder if the 16% were those who are constantly in trouble with the law. The Bible still maintains a prominent place in many Americans' lives. "Which of these statements describes your feelings about the Bible? The Bible is the actual word of God to be taken literally, word for word." Thirty-four percent said, yes. "The Bible is the inspired word of God, but not everything in it can be taken literally." Forty-six percent responded, yes. Twenty percent had other responses. A significant number of respondents said they still believed in the power of prayer? When asked, "Which best describes your beliefs about God? God is a heavenly father who can be reached by prayers?" 76% responded yes. Eleven percent responded no, maintaining that God is an idea, not a being. Only 8% said God is an impersonal creator and doesn't respond to prayer. Does God still influence peoples' lives? Seventy-seven percent of those asked, "Has God ever led or guided you in making any kind of decision in your life?" said yes. The percentage is high indicating that people still believe in the intervention of a higher power in their lives. Now, if you found these results interesting, take a look at these figures. Regarding whether there should be a separation of church and state, 53% said yes, and 42% said no. Fifteen percent were not sure. Maybe that's why "prayer in school" is out and no amount of lobbying by those who favor it will put prayer back into the classroom. Regarding values, 48% said there is no one set of values that is right, and 44% said there is. I wonder if they were referring to the fifth and seventh commandments. Considering the state of affairs of our criminal justice system and the plea bargaining and other aberrations that make it a "revolving door" the results are not surprising. The existential philosophy of Sartre and Camus seems to be alive and well in America. When asked if each individual must determine what is right or wrong, 70% said yes, and 25% said no. A majority still believes in the individual's right to self- determination regardless of the nation's state of being. The next question places President Clinton on the hot seat. "The President should be a moral and spiritual leader?" Yes, said 78%, and no said 17%. I wonder how people would respond to the question, "Is President Clinton serving as the moral and spiritual leader of this country?" This question was not asked, and I'm not surprised. "Would our government be better if policies were more directed by moral values?" Eighty-four percent said yes, and only 9% said no. It sounds like many people believe our political leaders are not governing using moral principles. If not, then what is driving the political engine? You and I both know, and its not morals. Regarding the concept of individual freedom as being critical to democracy in this country, 91% said it was, and only 4% said it wasn't. It isn't surprising then to find that only 55% said that "God is the moral guiding force of American democracy and 35% said no. One thousand registered voters with an over sample of 45 African-American voters were polled by the Tarrance Group on March 5-7, 1994. The margin of error was plus or minus 3%. So what do all these figures mean? Depending on how you interpret them, many conclusions can be drawn. The majority of people want individual freedom. They want the power to choose. A smaller percentage believe God is still the moral guiding force needed in America. Many still believe there is a need for moral and spiritual leadership by our President. What happens then when the President can't inspire us in this manner? We're going through Whitewater now. A few years ago it was Iran-Contra. Before that it was Nixon and Watergate, and Johnson and Vietnam. This condition has plagued America for the past 30 years since the death of J.F.K.. Even he's been exposed. Numerous movies, mini- series, and docu-dramas have portrayed the "other" Jack Kennedy. What has happened to destroy our perception of the President as our number one role model? You be the judge. Perhaps we expect too much from our national leaders. After all they're only men, and a few women. They possess their human foibles just like all of us do. My notion is that we don't expect enough from them. They run for office on high moral principles. Once they get into office, they conduct business as if the House of Congress and the Senate were an extension of their own personal fiefdoms. It is rare today to find a prominent political figure who truly works for the good of all the people and not just PAC's, lobbyists, and other special interest groups that pay for their own agendas by contributing to their favorite politician's campaign. Today, just like everything else in our society, we're in a state of flux, of exponential change, of old and new values clashing on the beaches of a new human civilization. Moral turpitude is rampant. Two polls ten years apart don't mean much. They are just numbers, aren't they? Yet they indicate there is some moral disenchantment adrift in America. Isn't this what Reich described in "The Greening of America" in 1970? When will the new consciousness he envisioned emerge out of the wasteland of the Corporate State "like flowers pushing up through the concrete pavement." Can we only ride out the storm like driftwood on the waves? Some believe this and live for the moment in quiet desperation. When they believe there isn't anything they can do, they are reduced to hopelessness. In times like these, many of us choose instead to return to the old verities and truths in an attempt to sail into a sheltered port away from the turbulent seas and weather out the storm, praying silently for divine guidance and inspiration.