Is America a Christian Nation?

Examining the Faith of the People Based on Survey Responses

In the Muslim world where I live, there is a widespread perception that “Christians have free sex.” America is perceived as sexually immoral, and America is perceived as the preeminent “Christian” nation; so it follows, from these perceptions, that Christianity is sexually immoral.

Whenever I encounter this viewpoint, I want to object. I want to say that America is neither as immoral, nor as Christian, as it may appear from the outside. I want to protest that the “Hollywood” lifestyle isn’t really representative of America, and that not all Americans are Christians in the first place—so it isn’t fair to tar Christians with that brush!

But whenever I respond this way, I...