A majority of Americans say that several times a year or more often, they feel deep wonder about the universe (71%) or a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being (66%). Masu.
Other types of spiritual experiences are less common, but are still experienced by many Americans.
Nearly half (45%) of U.S. adults report having felt a sudden connection with something from outside this world, and 3 in 10 say they have experienced a sudden connection with something from outside this world. He says he has personally encountered such forces.
This chapter covers these topics in detail.
Regular experiences of surprise and connection
wonder about the universe
Seventy-one percent of U.S. adults say they feel profound wonder about space at least a few times a year, and 46% of them experience this feeling monthly or more often.
In this analysis, atheists (60%) and agnostics (58%) are more likely than members of other religious groups to say they feel deeply surprised about the universe once a month or more often. higher, as well as adults under 50 compared to atheists. older.
Asian adults (31%) are more likely than white (46%), black (46%), and Hispanic adults (45%) to be deeply surprised about space monthly or more often. is low.
spiritual peace and happiness
Two-thirds of U.S. adults say they feel a deep sense of emotional peace and well-being at least several times a year, and 44% of them experience this feeling more than once a month.
Jews (28%) and non-religious people (30%) are more likely than Catholics (41%) or Protestants (53%) to feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being monthly or more often. If yes, you are less likely to answer. Evangelical Protestants and people in the historically black Protestant tradition are the most likely of the religious and nonreligious groups analyzed in this report to say they feel this way (60% each % and 56%).
Atheists are the least likely of all religious and non-religious groups included in this analysis to report regularly feeling spiritual peace and well-being. In fact, most atheists (63%) say they rarely or never feel deep spiritual peace or well-being.
Nearly six in 10 Black adults (57%) say they feel a deep sense of emotional peace and well-being monthly or more often, compared to Hispanics (46%) and whites. (41%), a higher percentage of adults of Asian descent (29%) say the same.
Additionally, women are more likely than men to say they feel this sense of mental peace at least monthly (48% vs. 39%).
Pew Research Center previously asked the following questions about experiences of wonder and peace in its 2007 and 2014 Religious Landscape Studies: However, because these surveys were conducted by telephone, it is unclear whether the previous results can be directly compared with the new estimates (derived from self-administered online surveys).
feel connected to humanity
Approximately 3 in 10 U.S. adults (31%) say they feel a deep connection to humanity on a monthly or more frequent basis. Although the demographic differences on this question are relatively small, black adults (38%) are more likely than white adults (28%) or Asian Americans (27%) to report having deep connections with their peers monthly or more. There is a high possibility that they will answer that they feel it frequently. .
I feel the presence of something from the other side.
One in five Americans (22%) say they sense the presence of something from outside this world at least every month. This includes three in ten Protestants (29%), smaller numbers of Catholics (19%), unaffiliated adults (13%) and Jews (9%).
Additionally, black (31%) or Hispanic (27%) adults are more likely than white (20%) or Asian (11%) adults to report having experienced the presence of something from outside the world every month or more. You are more likely to respond if you feel it more often than not. .
A sudden encounter with the spiritual realm
In addition to asking respondents whether they had experienced spirituality repeatedly or frequently, we also asked: Until now There was a certain kind of encounter.
A sudden connection with the other side
Many U.S. adults (45%) say they have felt a sudden or unexpected connection to something from outside this world, including 49% of Protestants. Masu.
Catholics, Jewish Americans, and religiously unaffiliated adults have similar views on this question, with about 4 in 10 of each group saying they have had such experiences.
personal encounter with spirits
Fewer U.S. adults say they have personally encountered spirits or invisible spiritual forces: 30% of Americans say they have had such an encounter, but roughly 3% of Americans say they have had such an encounter. Two out of ten have experienced such an event. believe In the presence of spirits and invisible spiritual forces. See Chapter 2 for information on spiritual beliefs.
Among the country’s large religious groups, Protestants (36%) are the most likely to say they have personally encountered spirits or invisible spiritual forces, compared to unaffiliated (26%), Catholics (25%), and Jews (11%). %) I say the same thing.
About a third (35%) of women report a personal encounter with a spirit or invisible spiritual force, compared to a quarter of men.
Also, 39% of black Americans have encountered a spirit or invisible spiritual force, compared to 30% of Hispanic adults, 29% of white Americans, and 18% of Asian Americans. It becomes.
Message from the deceased
About 4 in 10 Americans say they have felt a strong sense that a deceased person is trying to communicate with them. This includes 51% of adults who follow the historically black Protestant tradition and 47% of Catholics.
Smaller percentages of Jews (31%) and evangelical Protestants (30%) say they have felt a strong sense that the dead are trying to communicate with them. Among those with no religious affiliation, 35% say this.
Among people with no religious affiliation, 44% of those who said their religion was “nothing special” said they had felt a strong sense that someone who had died was communicating with them. 24% of agnostics and 15% of atheists disagree.
And women were far more likely than men to have had strong feelings that the person who had died was trying to communicate with them (47% vs. 29%).
A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in spring 2023 found that 53% of American adults said they had received a visit from a deceased family member, including in a dream. The survey also found that 34% said they had felt the presence of a deceased relative in the past 12 months, and 15% said they had communicated with a deceased relative.
Another Center for Research study conducted in September 2021 looked at what Americans think heaven and hell are like. It found that 25% of U.S. adults who believe in heaven believe it is definitely or probably true that deceased people can form relationships with people still living on Earth. It has been found.
Chapter 2 discusses Americans’ views of the deceased and their abilities.
