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%

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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.

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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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