Does hell exist? Who are its occupants? Almost 1500 Catholics responded to Beliefnet's online survey about the down side of the afterlife. View selected results below.
When you die, what do you think will probably happen? | |
I will go to heaven | |
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50.9% |
I will go to purgatory | |
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16.3% |
I will go to hell | |
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0.4% |
I will be reincarnated | |
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4.2% |
I will leave my body and return to a source of divine consciousness | |
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22.5% |
Other (please specify) | |
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5.8% |
Do you believe in a place of purgation that precedes heaven? | |
Yes | |
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64.5% |
No | |
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35.5% |
Do you believe in hell? | |
Yes-as a physical place of eternal torment and fire | |
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12.8% |
Yes-as a state of separation from God | |
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35.2% |
Yes, both of the above | |
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25.1% |
Yes--but we don't know what it will be like | |
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9.9% |
I'm not sure | |
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8.9% |
No | |
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6.6% |
Other (please specify) | |
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1.4% |
Is hell eternal or temporary? | |
It is eternal | |
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55.8% |
It continues until the Last Judgment or divine reckoning | |
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31.9% |
It is temporary | |
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12.3% |
What do you think are the chances that you might go to hell? | |
Certain | |
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0.4% |
Likely | |
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3.5% |
Unlikely | |
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43.4% |
Not a chance | |
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20.9% |
I don't know | |
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31.9% |
Do you know one or more people you think will probably go to hell? | |
Yes | |
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43.4% |
No | |
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56.6% |
What is the main reason they will probably go to hell? | |
Because they do not have the right beliefs | |
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19.1% |
Because of their immoral actions | |
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80.9% |
How would you describe your relationship to most of the individuals you think might go to hell? | |
They are acquaintances | |
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61% |
They are coworkers | |
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6.9% |
They are family members | |
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22% |
They are friends | |
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10.1% |
How often do you attend services at your house of worship? | |
Once a week or more often | |
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45.2% |
Several times a month | |
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13.2% |
A few times a year | |
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31.2% |
Never | |
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10.4% |
Gender | |
Male | |
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16.4% |
Female | |
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83.6% |
Age | |
18 - 24 | |
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2.6% |
25 - 34 | |
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5.3% |
35 - 44 | |
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14.1% |
45 - 54 | |
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32.8% |
55 - 64 | |
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29.3% |
65 and Over | |
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15.9% |
Politically, do you define yourself as: | |
Liberal | |
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17.9% |
Moderate | |
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50.1% |
Conservative | |
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32% |
Average Number of Respondents Per Question: | 1400 |