Survey year | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 69% | 17% | 6% | 7% | 1% | 20,955 |
2007 | 73% | 17% | 4% | 4% | 1% | 19,253 |
Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by religious group
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say religion is…
Religious tradition | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buddhist | 46% | 30% | 10% | 11% | 3% | 166 |
Catholic | 72% | 24% | 3% | 1% | < 1% | 4,173 |
Evangelical Protestant | 87% | 10% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 6,541 |
Historically Black Protestant | 90% | 8% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | 1,423 |
Jehovah's Witness | 96% | 4% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 203 |
Jewish | 57% | 26% | 13% | 4% | < 1% | 320 |
Mainline Protestant | 69% | 23% | 6% | 2% | 1% | 3,532 |
Mormon | 91% | 8% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 545 |
Muslim | 75% | 17% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 152 |
Orthodox Christian | 68% | 22% | 5% | 5% | < 1% | 103 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 21% | 23% | 21% | 34% | 2% | 3,048 |
Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are ages…
Importance of religion in one's life | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 15% | 32% | 30% | 23% | 14,194 |
Somewhat important | 25% | 35% | 26% | 14% | 3,463 |
Not too important | 31% | 38% | 21% | 10% | 1,217 |
Not at all important | 31% | 37% | 22% | 10% | 1,460 |
Don't know | 17% | 35% | 27% | 20% | 156 |
Generational cohort among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 9% | 11% | 27% | 35% | 15% | 2% | 14,194 |
Somewhat important | 15% | 17% | 29% | 31% | 8% | 1% | 3,463 |
Not too important | 20% | 19% | 30% | 24% | 6% | < 1% | 1,217 |
Not at all important | 20% | 21% | 28% | 26% | 6% | < 1% | 1,460 |
Don't know | 8% | 16% | 28% | 33% | 13% | 2% | 156 |
Gender composition among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Very important | 41% | 59% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 48% | 52% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 49% | 51% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 57% | 43% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 51% | 49% | 171 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who identify as…
Importance of religion in one's life | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 62% | 16% | 2% | 16% | 4% | 14,327 |
Somewhat important | 65% | 8% | 4% | 17% | 5% | 3,482 |
Not too important | 71% | 7% | 5% | 13% | 5% | 1,214 |
Not at all important | 71% | 5% | 5% | 14% | 5% | 1,447 |
Don't know | 64% | 7% | 3% | 20% | 6% | 153 |
Immigrant status among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 15% | 8% | 77% | 14,373 |
Somewhat important | 16% | 12% | 73% | 3,480 |
Not too important | 12% | 14% | 74% | 1,221 |
Not at all important | 13% | 14% | 73% | 1,460 |
Don't know | 18% | 13% | 69% | 165 |
Income distribution among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who have a household income of…
Importance of religion in one's life | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 38% | 21% | 26% | 15% | 12,374 |
Somewhat important | 34% | 20% | 26% | 20% | 3,121 |
Not too important | 24% | 21% | 29% | 26% | 1,110 |
Not at all important | 24% | 19% | 28% | 30% | 1,358 |
Don't know | 39% | 21% | 28% | 12% | 113 |
Educational distribution among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who have completed…
Importance of religion in one's life | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 43% | 33% | 15% | 9% | 14,460 |
Somewhat important | 40% | 32% | 18% | 10% | 3,504 |
Not too important | 27% | 34% | 22% | 17% | 1,230 |
Not at all important | 28% | 32% | 23% | 16% | 1,472 |
Don't know | 34% | 36% | 19% | 11% | 161 |
Marital status among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 55% | 5% | 14% | 9% | 18% | 14,469 |
Somewhat important | 44% | 10% | 14% | 5% | 26% | 3,514 |
Not too important | 42% | 11% | 11% | 3% | 33% | 1,228 |
Not at all important | 41% | 12% | 11% | 3% | 33% | 1,474 |
Don't know | 49% | 3% | 17% | 8% | 23% | 158 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Very important | 30% | 70% | 14,478 |
Somewhat important | 29% | 71% | 3,519 |
Not too important | 28% | 72% | 1,231 |
Not at all important | 27% | 73% | 1,474 |
Don't know | 22% | 78% | 167 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say they…
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 90% | 8% | 1% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 58% | 32% | 4% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 28% | 33% | 15% | < 1% | 17% | 6% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 25% | 14% | 9% | 1% | 45% | 7% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 67% | 16% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 7% | 171 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who attend religious services…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 65% | 25% | 9% | 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 17% | 53% | 30% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 4% | 34% | 62% | < 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 4% | 12% | 84% | < 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 32% | 16% | 39% | 12% | 171 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who pray…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 86% | 10% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 49% | 27% | 9% | 15% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 23% | 16% | 9% | 51% | 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 18% | 7% | 3% | 72% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 65% | 9% | 5% | 12% | 10% | 171 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who attend prayer group…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 48% | 13% | 9% | 30% | 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 10% | 10% | 10% | 70% | < 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 3% | 3% | 4% | 90% | < 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 5% | 1% | 2% | 92% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 22% | 10% | 8% | 50% | 10% | 171 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who meditate…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 59% | 7% | 2% | 30% | 2% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 42% | 10% | 4% | 43% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 38% | 13% | 6% | 43% | 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 43% | 9% | 4% | 43% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 66% | 7% | 1% | 16% | 11% | 171 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 55% | 15% | 9% | 20% | 2% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 54% | 15% | 10% | 20% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 61% | 14% | 10% | 14% | 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 67% | 11% | 8% | 13% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 65% | 11% | 3% | 12% | 9% | 171 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Importance of religion in one's life | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 59% | 6% | 29% | 4% | 3% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 16% | 15% | 56% | 10% | 2% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 5% | 20% | 61% | 13% | 2% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 3% | 21% | 51% | 23% | 2% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 26% | 11% | 37% | 6% | 21% | 171 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say…
Importance of religion in one's life | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 45% | 52% | 2% | 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 29% | 69% | 1% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 19% | 79% | 2% | 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 18% | 80% | 2% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 29% | 62% | 2% | 7% | 171 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who read scripture…
Importance of religion in one's life | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 66% | 11% | 6% | 16% | 1% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 20% | 13% | 13% | 53% | 1% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 8% | 6% | 7% | 79% | < 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 9% | 3% | 5% | 83% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 38% | 9% | 9% | 37% | 7% | 171 |
Interpreting scripture among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say the holy scripture is…
Importance of religion in one's life | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 52% | 30% | 4% | 9% | 6% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 17% | 31% | 2% | 41% | 9% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 6% | 13% | < 1% | 74% | 7% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 4% | 5% | 1% | 85% | 5% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 19% | 19% | 6% | 35% | 20% | 171 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who …in heaven
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 88% | 6% | 6% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 74% | 18% | 8% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 42% | 47% | 11% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 21% | 70% | 9% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 51% | 23% | 26% | 171 |
Belief in Hell among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who …in hell
Importance of religion in one's life | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 75% | 17% | 7% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 54% | 37% | 9% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 26% | 64% | 10% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 13% | 80% | 7% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 37% | 37% | 25% | 171 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who identify as…
Importance of religion in one's life | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 45% | 18% | 38% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 33% | 19% | 48% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 26% | 19% | 56% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 19% | 21% | 60% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 22% | 39% | 39% | 171 |
Political ideology among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who are…
Importance of religion in one's life | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 50% | 29% | 16% | 6% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 28% | 39% | 28% | 5% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 17% | 40% | 39% | 4% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 13% | 33% | 48% | 6% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 26% | 28% | 27% | 19% | 171 |
Views about size of government among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who would rather have…
Importance of religion in one's life | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 54% | 39% | 3% | 4% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 50% | 43% | 4% | 3% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 49% | 44% | 4% | 4% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 45% | 45% | 4% | 5% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 48% | 29% | 8% | 15% | 171 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say government aid to the poor…
Importance of religion in one's life | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 49% | 45% | 4% | 2% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 43% | 52% | 4% | 2% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 37% | 58% | 4% | 1% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 32% | 62% | 4% | 2% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 28% | 43% | 11% | 18% | 171 |
Views about abortion among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say abortion should be…
Importance of religion in one's life | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 35% | 60% | 5% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 65% | 31% | 4% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 80% | 17% | 3% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 80% | 16% | 4% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 48% | 35% | 18% | 171 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say homosexuality…
Importance of religion in one's life | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 43% | 48% | 5% | 4% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 76% | 17% | 4% | 3% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 87% | 10% | 2% | 2% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 87% | 9% | 3% | 1% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 54% | 17% | 15% | 14% | 171 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who …same-sex marriage
Importance of religion in one's life | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 33% | 59% | 8% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 68% | 24% | 8% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 83% | 13% | 4% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 85% | 11% | 4% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 50% | 31% | 19% | 171 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say…
Importance of religion in one's life | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 44% | 50% | 3% | 4% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 34% | 60% | 2% | 3% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 26% | 70% | 1% | 2% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 21% | 74% | 3% | 2% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 20% | 51% | 9% | 20% | 171 |
Views about human evolution among adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week by importance of religion
% of adults who feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing at least once a week who say humans…
Importance of religion in one's life | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very important | 12% | 28% | 3% | 51% | 5% | 14,544 |
Somewhat important | 37% | 31% | 5% | 24% | 3% | 3,527 |
Not too important | 66% | 15% | 5% | 12% | 2% | 1,233 |
Not at all important | 73% | 11% | 4% | 10% | 2% | 1,480 |
Don't know | 27% | 18% | 10% | 25% | 20% | 171 |