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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In early August, 2005, Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,004 Americans what they believe and how they practice their faith. Read the complete results or choose a question from the index below:

WHO GOES TO HEAVEN/ATTAINS SALVATION?

ARE YOU SPIRITUAL OR RELIGIOUS?

HOW IMPORTANT IS SPIRITUALITY?

WHAT'S YOUR FAITH?

WHAT RELIGION WERE YOU RAISED IN?

HAS YOUR SIBLINGS' FAITH CHANGED?

IS YOUR SPOUSE'S FAITH THE SAME?

IS YOUR PRACTICE TRADITIONAL?

WHY DO YOU PRACTICE?

WHAT'S THE MAIN REASON YOU PRACTICE?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU PRACTICE?

WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST CONNECTED TO GOD?

WAS THE UNIVERSE CREATED BY GOD?

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE DIES

DO YOU EXPLORE OTHER FAITHS?

Can a good person who isn't of your religious faith go to heaven or attain salvation, or not?
	Yes	No	Don't know
Evangelical Protestants	68%	22%	10%
Non-Evangelical Protestants	83%	10%	7%
Catholics	91%	3%	6%
Non-Christians	73%	3%	24%
Total	79%	12%	9%

Which best describes you?
	Age
	18-39	40-59	60+	Total
Spiritual but not religious	27%	28%	15%	24%
Religious but not spiritual	10%	8%	8%	9%
Religious & spiritual	48%	56%	66%	55%
Not spiritual/ not religious	11%	5%	6%	8%
Don't know	4%	3%	5%	4%

How important is spirituality in your daily life?
	Age
	18-39	40-59	60+	Total
Very important	44%	63%	66%	57%
Somewhat important	32%	27%	20%	27%
Not too important	11%	4%	5%	7%
Not at all Important	11%	5%	5%	7%
Don't know	2%	1%	4%	2%

How would you categorize your faith?
	Age
	18-39	40-59	60+	Total
Total Christian	77%	90%	91%	85%
Evangelical Protestant	28%	36%	36%	33%
Non-Evangelical Protestant	23%	25%	28%	25%
Roman Catholic	22%	22%	22%	22%
Mormon	2%	1%	1%	1%
Orthodox Church	<1%	1%	<1%	<1%
Other Christian	2%	5%	4%	4%
Total Non-Christian	7%	4%	4%	5%
Jewish	1%	2%	2%	1%
Muslim	2%	0%	0%	1%
Hindu	1%	<1%	1%	1%
Buddhist	1%	1%	<1%	1%
Other religion	2%	1%	1%	1%
Athiest/Agnostic/No Religion	9%	5%	3%	6%
Religion Undesignated	7%	1%	2%	4%

How would you compare your religion today to the religion in which you were raised?
	Age
	18-39	40-59	60+	Total
The same	37%	41%	35%	38%
Mostly the same	28%	31%	33%	30%
Mostly Different	9%	7%	13%	9%
Completely different	10%	14%	11%	11%
Not raised in any religion	5%	2%	1%	3%
Became an atheist/agnostic	4%	4%	3%	4%
Don't know	7%	1%	4%	5%

If you have brothers or sisters, is their religion today the same as that with which they were raised?
Religion is the same/mostly the same	62%
Changed religion or stopped practicing religion	23%
Don't have any (living) siblings	8%
Not raised in any religion	1%
Don't know	6%

Is your spouse's/partner's religion the same as your religion?
The same	70%
Mostly the same	14%
Mostly different	5%
Completely different	10%
Spouse/partner is atheist/agnostic/ has no religion	1%
Don't know	<1%

In terms of the way you practice your religion today, how do you think of yourself?
	Age
	18-39	40-59	60+	Total
Very traditional	22%	25%	34%	27%
Somewhat traditional	40%	47%	43%	44%
Not traditional	29%	18%	9%	19%
On the cutting edge	6%	7%	6%	6%
Don't Know	3%	3%	8%	4%

	Evang. Prot.	Non-Evang. Prot.	Cath.	Other
Very traditional	38%	19%	21%	14%
Somewhat traditional	38%	48%	52%	36%
Not traditional	12%	23%	20%	37%
On the cutting edge	7%	5%	3%	12%
Don't Know	5%	5%	4%	1%

How important are the following reasons for practicing your religion today?
1. To connect with something larger than yourself
Very important	55%
Somewhat important	24%
Not too important	8%
Not at all important	6%
Don't know	7%

2. To find happiness and peace of mind
Very important	70%
Somewhat important	21%
Not too important	4%
Not at all important	3%
Don't know	2%

3. To forge a personal relationship with God
Very important	75%
Somewhat important	16%
Not too important	4%
Not at all important	4%
Don't know	1%

4. To give your life meaning and structure
Very important	63%
Somewhat important	24%
Not too important	6%
Not at all important	4%
Don't know	3%

5. To be a part of a community
Very important	39%
Somewhat important	33%
Not too important	13%
Not at all important	13%
Don't know	2%

6. To help you be a better person and live a moral life
Very important	75%
Somewhat important	19%
Not too important	2%
Not at all important	2%
Don't know	2%

When do people feel most connected with God or the divine?
Read more poll results >>

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%

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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.

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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