Many Religious ‘Nones’ Around the World Hold Spiritual Beliefs
Many religious “nones,” which include atheists and agnostics, in 22 countries hold religious or spiritual beliefs, such as in an afterlife or something beyond the natural world.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Field dates: Feb. 13 – 25, 2024
Topics: Religion, Israel, and geopolitics
Many religious “nones,” which include atheists and agnostics, in 22 countries hold religious or spiritual beliefs, such as in an afterlife or something beyond the natural world.
Belief in an afterlife, God and spirits in nature is widespread globally. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to believe in God.
Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination.
We asked people in three dozen countries how they see religion’s role in society, government and national identity.
Views vary on other ideas, such as recognizing same-sex marriages. Most see Pope Francis as a change in the church’s direction, and he’s broadly popular.
Pope Francis is broadly popular in much of Latin America and the U.S., but favorability has fallen in the Latin American countries surveyed.
Adults in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines are the most likely to say it is important to have a leader who stands up for people with their religious beliefs.
Americans and Israelis now see one another’s leaders more negatively than in the recent past, and other key views have shifted as well.
Most say Francis represents change in the church. And many say the church should allow priests to marry and let Catholics use birth control.
40% of U.S. adults say there’s a lot of discrimination against Jews in society, and 44% say there’s a lot of discrimination against Muslims.
This content requires a Pew Research Center account.