Ok, Who Believes What in SA?

by Letters Editor · March 15, 2017

Philip Rosenthal, ChristianView Network, Cape Town – Polls show 97 out of 100 South Africans believe in God, with half the remainder being unsure. Half of those believe in hell.

The churches are the most respected institutions, above the government, the media and the courts.

Nine out of ten oppose same-sex sexual relationships. Around two- thirds oppose legal abortion.

Political, academic and mainstream media, the legal profession and non-profit lobbies are, however, dominated by an elite mostly hostile to Christianity.

The Christian faith is facing many attacks on religious freedom.

For example, there are attempts to ban religion in schools, ban “politically incorrect” speech and micro-regulate religion.

Most denominations are withering numerically. Charismatic-oriented churches are growing in numbers, but in many cases weakening theologically. Overall, Christian faith has majority affiliation but is in decline.

South Africa’s 1994-6 Constitution acknowledges God multiple times, asks for his blessing, but removes “in humble submission to almighty God”.

The nation saw legal abortion in 1996, and same-sex marriage in 2006. We narrowly averted a constitutional crisis in 2015-16 after a judge authorised euthanasia, later overturned on appeal.

Universities are in crisis, with youth reared to revere violence against authority. South Africa desperately needs prayer for divine intervention and spiritual revival.