[Buddha-l] How Gallup, Pew & Templeton Proselytize in the Guise of "Research"

[L.S. Cousins]

This seems to me to be too much of a blanket condemnation.

I am fairly sure from my own knowledge that Templeton should not be 
included in this list. This is simply a Christian organization engaging 
in research from a Christian point of view. It is obviously likely to be 
biased from various non-Christian standpoints, but no more than that. I 
do not believe that it is engaged in some kind of attempt to distort the 
facts.

As regards Gallup too, I would like more evidence. This has been in the 
past a reputable polling organization. It is not enough to indicate the 
private activities or personal convictions of some of its leadership and 
owners. I would like some specific case(s) of actual bias: e.g. polls 
with loaded questions or polls with results that appear to contradict 
other comparable surveys.

Pew I have myself been suspicious of in the past. The China-India 
contrast does seem peculiar, but of course makes perfect sense if what 
is actually meant is prejudice against Christian missionary activity. 
Here too, though, we should be looking for more evidence rather than 
taking general positions.

The evidence against this Hayes fellow seems overwhelming.

Happy New Year,

Lance Cousins.