A new poll finds the vast majority of Americans believe in good and evil, but views differ as to whether evil is born or created by society. Rasmussen Reports conducted the national survey in response to Stephen Paddock opening fire on fans gathered for a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Paddock killed 59 and wounded at least 400.
A whopping 81% of Americans say they “believe in good and evil,” including 90% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats and 80% of those unaffiliated with either party. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of men and 83% of women agree, as do Americans in every single age group.
However, when asked if “some people are born evil” or if “society makes some people evil,” Americans are much more divided. Twenty-one percent (21%) say evil is born, while 51% say society is to blame. This isn’t terribly surprising given that the idea we are responsible for our own actions and destiny is ingrained in the American identity.
Another 28% said they were unsure.
The survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on October 4-5, 2017 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
