A new study finds that 46% of spiritual* US Catholics say it is essential for them to “find their own set of beliefs” about what it means to be spiritual. The rate was higher than any other religiously affiliated group surveyed. Of all people involved in a spiritual* religion, 36% said the same.
The new Pew Research Center poll was conducted from July 31 to August. 6 surveyed 11,201 U.S. adults about spirituality to better understand the “spiritual but not religious” group. This is the first time Pew has asked these questions, and the center hopes to compare this survey with future surveys to track changes in spiritual beliefs, practices, and experiences.
Spiritual* Catholics also say that “connecting with deceased loved ones” (41%) and “continuing family traditions” (39%) are essential to what it means to them to be spiritual. This is a higher percentage than any other religious affiliation or religious affiliation. A group of independents studied.
31% of religiously affiliated spiritual* and 32% of non-religious spiritual* said it was essential to “connect with loved ones who have passed away.” When it comes to “continuing family traditions,” 30% of religiously affiliated spiritual*s and 19% of non-religiously affiliated spiritual*s said it was essential.
71% of U.S. Catholics say it is “definitely” or “probably true” that a deceased person can be “united with other loved ones who have already passed,” and 64% of Catholics replied, “Absolutely.” Or, it is “probably true” that the deceased “can provide aid, protection, and guidance to those still alive.” Both rates were higher than other religiously affiliated or unaffiliated groups surveyed.
Only 49% of religiously affiliated people said the deceased could provide assistance, protection, and guidance to those still alive.
Spiritual*44% of Catholics say “connecting with nature” is essential to what it means to them to be spiritual, higher than any other religious group. Ta. His 37% of people involved in spiritual* religions had a similar response.
The most common answers to the question about how important “connecting to God” (76%) and “connecting to something bigger than yourself” (74%) are to being spiritual and spiritual *Slightly lower percentages of Catholics agreed than those who were spiritual* Religiously affiliated people, 81% and 77%, respectively, agreed.
Spiritual*Historically Black Protestants are more likely than Spiritual*Catholics to believe that “connecting with one’s ‘true self'” (76%) and “being open-minded” (57%) are essential to one’s existence. were the only religiously affiliated group more likely to say that they were. It has a spiritual meaning for them. 66% of Spiritual* Catholics agreed with “connecting with one’s ‘true self'” and 54% agreed with “opening one’s heart.”
Catholics* who are spiritual are more likely than people belonging to other religions to say it is essential to “follow religious beliefs” about what being spiritual means to them. was low (42%). Regarding what it means to them to be spiritual, respondents with spiritual* religious affiliations and unaffiliated respondents are broadly in agreement regarding the importance of “connecting with other people.” 40% said it was essential.
49% of Catholics said they were involved in a religious community, and 11% said they were involved in a spiritual community. Fifty-eight percent of Protestants said they were involved in a religious community, and 18% said they were involved in a spiritual community.
Compared to Protestants, Catholics were significantly more likely to own a cross for religious purposes, with 72% owning a cross compared to 42% of Protestants. Catholics are also more likely than other religious groups or unaffiliated groups to wear jewelry for spiritual purposes (30%) or to have shrines, altars, or icons in their homes (33%). It was highly likely that the
87% of Catholics said they believed in heaven, and 73% said they believed in hell. Among U.S. adults, 71% believe in heaven and 61% believe in hell.
Catholics’ responses to questions about their sense of wonder about the universe also stood out. Thirty-six percent of Catholics said they feel deeply amazed about the universe on a monthly or more frequent basis, compared to 46% of U.S. adults overall.
Pew surveys categorize respondents as spiritual and/or religious based on whether they identify as spiritual or religious or say spirituality or religion is important in their lives. I classified it as Additionally, when respondents were asked an open-ended question about their understanding of “spirituality,” their responses indicated that “spirituality” overlaps significantly with “religion.”
According to the survey, 22% of U.S. adults were spiritual but not religious, 10% were religious but not spiritual, and 48% were religious and spiritual. 21 percent of U.S. adults are neither spiritual nor religious.
Among Catholics, 14% were classified as spiritual but not religious, 56% religious and spiritual, 18% religious but not spiritual, and 12% neither spiritual nor religious. .
The survey found that people who are spiritual but not religious are younger and more likely to be Democrats or lean Democratic. This group was more likely than religious adults to believe that spirits and spiritual energies exist in animals and nature.
Spiritual but not religious adults have more negative views of organized religion than spiritual and religious adults, even though 45% declare a religious affiliation. Despite this, very few people participate in religious events. This group was more likely than religious and spiritual adults to spend time “introducing or centering” themselves.
