When video surfaced of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's comments about Satan in 2008, the question of Americans' belief in an evil supernatural power became a topic of discussion in the media. In a speech at Catholic University in 2008, the GOP presidential contender said, "Satan has been attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that [are] so deeply rooted in the American tradition." He also said that Satan has his sights on the United States.
The most recent polls show that the majority of Americans believe in Satan. According to a 2007 Gallup poll, seven in 10 Americans believe that the devil exists. In a Harris survey (pdf) conducted two years later, just over 60 percent of American adults said they believe in Satan. In that survey, 69 percent of Catholics (Santorum's faith), 77 percent of Protestants and 89 percent of born-again Christians acknowledged a belief in the devil.
Santorum defended his comments earlier this week. "You know, I'm a person of faith. I believe in good and evil," he told reporters after a rally in Phoenix. "I think if somehow or another, because you're a person of faith, [your belief] in good and evil is a disqualifier for president, we’re going to have a very small pool of candidates who can run for president.”
Do you believe in Satan? If so, do you believe that he's targeting the United States?
Read more at MSNBC and the Huffington Post.