Newsweek/Beliefnet Poll Results

A new poll points to growing importance of 'spirituality'; most believe people of other faiths can go to heaven.

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Which of the following would you say is the main reason you practice your religion? (among traditional and non-traditional practitioners)
Trad. Non-Trad. Total
To forge a personal relationship with God 44% 28% 39%
To help you be a better person and live a moral life 31% 27% 30%
To find happiness and peace of mind 17% 17% 17%
To connect with something larger than yourself 10% 9% 10%
To give your life meaning and structure 8% 11% 8%
To be part of a community 3% 3% 3%
Other reason 1% 0% 1%
No main reason 5% 19% 10%
Don't know 2% 1% 2%


How often do you do each of the following religious and spiritual activities?
1. Attend church or worship services
Every day 2%
Several times a week 13%
Once a week 30%
Once or twice a month 15%
A few times a year 13%
Seldom 14%
Never 12%
Don't know 1%
2. Participate in a spiritual activity not connected with a traditional church or house of worship
Every day 21%
Several times a week 11%
Once a week 11%
Once or twice a month 14%
A few times a year 9%
Seldom 12%
Never 19%
Don't know 3%
3. Read the Bible, Koran, or other sacred text
Every day 20%
Several times a week 13%
Once a week 12%
Once or twice a month 11%
A few times a year 9%
Seldom 16%
Never 17%
Don't know 2%
4. Pray
Every day 64%
Several times a week 10%
Once a week 5%
Once or twice a month 4%
A few times a year 2%
Seldom 6%
Never 8%
Don't know 1%
5. Meditate
Every day 29%
Several times a week 10%
Once a week 6%
Once or twice a month 4%
A few times a year 2%
Seldom 10%
Never 36%
Don't know 3%


In which instance do you feel most connected with God or the divine?
When praying or meditating 40%
When in nature 21%
When in a house of worship 21%
When praying with others 6%
When reading a sacred text 2%
None of these 6%
Don't know 4%


Do you believe the universe was created by God, or not created by God?
Created by God 80%
Not created by God 10%
Don't believe in God 1%
Don't know 9%


What do you think is the most important purpose of prayer?
To seek God's guidance 27%
To thank God 23%
To be close to God or the divine 19%
To help others 13%
To improve a person's life 9%
Other 4%
Don't know 5%


Which best describes your views about what happens when someone dies? (among traditional and non-traditional practitioners)
Trad. Non-Trad. Total
It'a all over, there is no soul 3% 6% 6%
The soul goes to heaven or hell 79% 59% 67%
There is no heaven or hell, but the soul lives on in a spiritual realm 9% 17% 13%
The soul is reincarnated into another being 2% 8% 5%
Don't know 7% 10% 9%


How often do you explore spiritual ideas or practices of other religious faiths in addition to your own?
Evang. Prot. Non-Evang. Prot. Cath. Other All
Often 7% 6% 8% 17% 8%
Some-
times 		23% 25% 27% 31% 24%
Hardly ever 33% 31% 28% 32% 31%
Never 35% 37% 36% 12% 35%
Don't know 2% 1% 1% 8% 2%

Poll of 1,004 adults nationally, 18 and older, conducted for Newsweek/Beliefnet by Princeton Survey Research Associates on August 2-4, 2005. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points.

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