{"id":69597,"date":"2023-12-07T09:50:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/"},"modified":"2025-09-09T13:40:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T17:40:23","slug":"spirituality-among-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"Spirituality Among Americans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><img data-dominant-color=\"403f1f\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #403f1f;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?resize=480,270 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?resize=782,440 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?resize=960,540 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?resize=1280,720 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"360\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-80869 not-transparent\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center conducted this survey to explore what spirituality means to Americans and to see whether various beliefs, practices and experiences that people may think of as spiritual are common. For this report, we surveyed 11,201 respondents from July 31 to Aug. 6, 2023. All respondents to the survey are part of Pew Research Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel recruited through national random sampling of residential addresses, which gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, religious affiliation and other categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more, refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/u-s-survey-research\/american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s Methodology<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-methodology\/\">Methodology for this report<\/a>. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_TOPLINE.pdf\">questions used in this report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent decades, Americans have become less likely to identify with an organized religion. Yet a new Pew Research Center survey shows that belief in spirits or a spiritual realm beyond this world is widespread, even among those who don\u2019t consider themselves religious. The survey finds that:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>83% of all U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>74% say there are some things that science cannot possibly explain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>45% say they have had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>38% say they have had a strong feeling that someone who has passed away was communicating with them from beyond this world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30% say they have personally encountered a spirit or unseen spiritual force.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, 70% of U.S. adults can be considered \u201cspiritual\u201d in some way, because they think of themselves as spiritual people or say spirituality is very important in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-01-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80816\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dee8ed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dee8ed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?resize=480,263 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?resize=782,428 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?resize=960,525 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?resize=1200,656 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?resize=1280,700 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"350\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-01.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows most Americans believe people have a soul or spirit\" class=\"wp-image-80816 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are among the key findings of a new Pew Research Center survey of American spirituality, conducted July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, among a nationally representative sample of 11,201 members of our <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">American Trends Panel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report covers the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/\">Measuring spirituality<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-beliefs\/\">Spiritual beliefs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/\">Spiritual practices<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-experiences\/\">Spiritual experiences<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans\/\">Who are \u2018spiritual but not religious\u2019 Americans?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;is-spirituality-increasing&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-spirituality-increasing\">Is spirituality increasing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because this is the first time Pew Research Center has asked many of these questions about beliefs, practices and experiences that may be viewed as spiritual, we do not know whether they are more \u2013 or less \u2013 common today than they were in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Previous research has found a <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2021\/12\/14\/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated\/\">decline in traditional religious beliefs and practices<\/a>. That includes a drop in the shares of U.S. adults who say they <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2015\/11\/03\/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious\/\">believe in God<\/a> with absolute certainty, <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2019\/10\/17\/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace\/\">attend religious services regularly<\/a>, pray daily and consider religion to be very important in their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some news articles have speculated that young Americans may be turning away from organized religion and <a href=\"https:\/\/projects.apnews.com\/features\/2023\/the-nones\/the-nones-us.html\">replacing it with their own mix of spiritual elements<\/a> drawn from many sources, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/erasmus\/2018\/04\/13\/an-asian-religion-gains-popularity-in-the-new-world\">Asian religions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/sage-sacred-to-native-americans-is-being-used-in-purification-rituals-raising-issues-of-cultural-appropriation-198470\">Native American traditions<\/a>, as well as New Age beliefs about crystals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/religion\/2021\/12\/10\/tarot-cards-pandemic-trend\/\">tarot cards<\/a> and the like. Media coverage has often focused, in particular, on people who describe themselves as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/membership\/archive\/2018\/01\/what-it-means-to-be-spiritual-but-not-religious\/550337\/\">\u201cspiritual but not religious.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Pew Research Center surveys have documented <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2021\/12\/14\/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated\/\">a decline since 2007 in the percentage of Americans who identify as Christian<\/a>, the evidence that \u201creligion\u201d is being <em>replaced<\/em> by \u201cspirituality\u201d is much weaker, partly because of the difficulty of defining and separating those concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This survey is intended to help fill the gap. We plan to use our new questions about spiritual beliefs, practices and experiences as a baseline, re-asking them periodically to see which measures are rising, which are falling and which are stable. And rather than imposing a definition of spirituality, we will let survey respondents tell us what it means to them and how they practice it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"what-is-spirituality\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;what-is-spirituality&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>What is spirituality?<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an effort to understand what Americans have in mind when they talk about spirituality, the survey asked respondents to explain, in their own words, what \u201cspiritual\u201d means to them. Fully 27% define \u201cspiritual\u201d by mentioning beliefs or faiths associated with organized religion, such as belief in God (12%); Jesus, the Holy Spirit or elements of Christian theology (8%); or obedience to religious teachings (5%).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many also say the word \u201cspiritual\u201d is about connections (24%), frequently with God but also, in some cases, with one\u2019s inner self. One-in-ten Americans say the term relates to understanding themselves or guiding their own behavior, including being kind or respectful (4%), finding inner peace (2%), purpose or meaning (2%) or a sense of guidance and direction (2%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>These open-ended responses illustrate the difficulty of separating \u201cspirituality\u201d from \u201creligion\u201d and suggest that for many Americans, there is no clear dividing line.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To further explore the meaning of spirituality and its overlap with religion, the survey presented \u201cspiritual\u201d Americans (i.e., those who consider themselves spiritual or who say spirituality is very important in their lives) with a list of items and asked them to say which ones are \u201cessential\u201d to what being spiritual means to them. They could select as many items as they wished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-02-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80822\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e0e9ed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e0e9ed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?resize=480,274 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?resize=782,446 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?resize=960,548 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?resize=1200,684 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?resize=1280,730 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"365\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-02.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows Most spiritual Americans say being connected with \u2018something bigger than myself\u2019 is essential to being spiritual\" class=\"wp-image-80822 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, the top three answers \u2013 out of 10 possible items \u2013 were \u201cbeing connected with something bigger than myself\u201d (74%), \u201cbeing connected with God\u201d (70%) and \u201cbeing connected with my true self\u201d (64%).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller but still substantial shares of respondents (roughly four-in-ten or more) chose items such as \u201cbeing open-minded,\u201d \u201cbeing connected with nature,\u201d \u201cfollowing a religious faith,\u201d \u201cfinding a set of beliefs that I make for myself\u201d and \u201cbeing connected with other people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more discussion of what Americans mean by spirituality, jump to <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/\">Chapter 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;americans-beliefs-about-spirits-and-the-afterlife&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"americans-beliefs-about-spirits-and-the-afterlife\">Americans\u2019 beliefs about spirits and the afterlife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. A smaller majority (57%) believes that animals other than humans can have their own spirits or spiritual energies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Half of Americans believe that spirits can inhabit burial places, such as graveyards, cemeteries or other memorial sites. And a similar share (48%) says that parts of the natural landscape \u2013 such as mountains, rivers or trees \u2013 can have spirits or spiritual energies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About a quarter of U.S. adults believe that spirits or spiritual energy can reside in certain objects, such as crystals, jewels or stones (26%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-03-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80829\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5ebee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5ebee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?resize=480,193 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?resize=782,314 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?resize=960,386 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?resize=1200,482 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?resize=1280,514 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"257\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-03.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows roughly half of Americans believe that animals, graveyards and parts of nature can have spirits or spiritual energies\" class=\"wp-image-80829 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"what-do-americans-believe-about-life-after-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do Americans believe about life after death?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey finds that 71% of Americans believe in heaven, while somewhat fewer \u2013 61% \u2013 believe in hell and 60% believe in both. These numbers have held steady in recent years.[1. Pew Research Center has asked about belief in heaven and hell on four previous occasions in American Trends Panel (ATP) surveys since 2017. The results have been fairly stable, hovering between 71% and 74% of U.S. adults who say they believe in heaven and 60% to 62% who say they believe in hell. <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_TOPLINE.pdf\">Refer to the Topline for details<\/a>.] But there is less consensus about whether the dead have various powers, such as the ability to follow what is happening in this world and to watch out for loved ones who are alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We explored these beliefs for the first time by asking whether it is \u201cdefinitely true,\u201d \u201cprobably true,\u201d \u201cprobably not true\u201d or \u201cdefinitely not true\u201d that people who have already died can do a variety of things. (Respondents also were able to say they were \u201cnot sure.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than half of U.S. adults (57%) believe that in the afterlife, people definitely or probably can reunite with loved ones who also have died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-04-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80835\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e4ecf0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e4ecf0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?resize=480,242 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?resize=782,395 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?resize=960,484 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?resize=1200,606 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?resize=1280,646 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"323\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-04.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows 42% of Americans believe the dead can communicate with the living\" class=\"wp-image-80835 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About four-in-ten or more Americans say that dead people definitely or probably can assist, protect or guide the living (46%), be aware of what\u2019s going on among the living (44%) or communicate with people who are still living (42%). Overall, U.S. adults are more than twice as likely to say that the dead can <em>help<\/em> the living (46%) as they are to say that the dead can <em>harm<\/em> the living (18%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About a quarter of U.S. adults believe it is definitely or probably true that the dead can be reincarnated (27%), defined in the survey as being \u201creborn again and again in this world.\u201d[2. Several of our surveys have asked about reincarnation in a \u201cYes\/No\u201d format, <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2021\/11\/23\/few-americans-blame-god-or-say-faith-has-been-shaken-amid-pandemic-other-tragedies\/\">most recently<\/a> on the ATP in 2021, as well as in <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2009\/12\/09\/many-americans-mix-multiple-faiths\/\">a 2009 telephone survey<\/a> about mystical experiences. However, those surveys are not directly comparable with the 2023 survey of spirituality among Americans because of differences in question wording and\/or methodology.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;spiritual-experiences-and-practices&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spiritual-experiences-and-practices\">Spiritual experiences and practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some kinds of spiritual experiences seem to be relatively common. For example, 46% of U.S. adults say that at least once or twice a month they feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe. A similar share (44%) say they feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being that often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-05-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80839\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e8edef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e8edef;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?resize=480,190 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?resize=782,309 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?resize=960,380 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?resize=1200,474 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?resize=1280,506 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"253\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-05.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows 44% of Americans say they feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once or twice a month\" class=\"wp-image-80839 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feeling a deep sense of connection with humanity and feeling \u201cthe presence of something from beyond this world\u201d are less common. Still, about one-fifth of Americans or more say they have such feelings at least once or twice a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To gauge experiences that may be relatively rare, we asked respondents whether they have ever had specific otherworldly experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fully 45% say they have had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world, and 38% say they\u2019ve had a strong feeling that someone who previously passed away was communicating with them from beyond this world. Three-in-ten say they believe in spirits or unseen spiritual forces <em>and<\/em> also say they have personally encountered one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-06-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80843\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e8ecef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e8ecef;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?resize=480,189 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?resize=782,308 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?resize=960,378 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?resize=1200,473 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?resize=1280,504 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"252\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-06.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows 45% of Americans have ever had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world\" class=\"wp-image-80843 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"how-do-americans-practice-spirituality\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do Americans practice spirituality?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To measure some common spiritual practices, we asked survey respondents how often they pursue five activities: looking inward or centering themselves, meditating, doing yoga, exercising and spending time in nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether these activities are spiritual depends, of course, on one\u2019s definition of spirituality. As previously noted, many Americans explain the meaning of \u201cspiritual\u201d by talking about various kinds of connections \u2013 such as with God or something bigger than themselves, with their innermost selves, with loved ones who have died or with all humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that understanding of spirituality in mind, we asked survey respondents to select the <em>most important<\/em> <em>reason <\/em>why they engage in each of these activities: Is it to \u201cfeel connected\u201d with something bigger than themselves, with their \u201ctrue self\u201d or with other people? Is it to get health benefits, including relaxation? To have fun and enjoy the experience? Or for other reasons?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A total of 77% of U.S. adults say they spend time in nature at least a few times a month, and 26% say they do so mainly to feel connected, such as with something bigger than themselves (18%) or with their &#8220;true self&#8221; (6%). Half of Americans say they spend time in nature mainly for health benefits, to enjoy themselves or for other reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By comparison, fewer Americans (64%) say they look inward or center themselves at least a few times each month. But a relatively large share \u2013 44% of all U.S. adults \u2013 say they look inward or center themselves mainly to feel connected, including 27% who do it mainly to feel connected with their \u201ctrue self.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly four-in-ten Americans meditate at least a few times a month (38%), including 22% of U.S. adults who meditate mainly to connect with their \u201ctrue self\u201d (11%) or with something bigger than themselves (10%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-07-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80846\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2eaee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2eaee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?resize=480,353 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?resize=782,574 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?resize=960,705 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?resize=1200,881 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?resize=1280,940 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"470\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-07.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their \u2018true self\u2019 or with something bigger than themselves\" class=\"wp-image-80846 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"how-many-americans-gather-in-spiritual-communities\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How many Americans gather in spiritual communities?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans are more likely to report gathering in religious communities than meeting in spiritual groups. Fully 39% of U.S. adults say they are involved in a religious community, such as a church or religious congregation, while 14% say they are involved in \u201ca spiritual community, such as a group that helps [them] find a connection with something bigger than [themselves], nature or other people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, most people who are involved in a spiritual community are also involved in a religious one: 10% of U.S. adults say they are involved in both kinds of groups, while just 4% of all U.S. adults say they are involved in a spiritual community and <em>not<\/em> a religious one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-kinds-of-things-do-americans-have-for-spiritual-reasons\">What kinds of things do Americans have for spiritual reasons?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-08-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80853\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e5edf0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e5edf0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-08.png?resize=480,370 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-08.png?resize=782,603 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-08.png?resize=840,648 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"324\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-08.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows 48% of Americans have at least one of the following for spiritual purposes\" class=\"wp-image-80853 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than one-third of U.S. adults say they have a cross for spiritual purposes, and 19% say they have some jewelry (which could also be a cross) that serves a spiritual purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, 15% of Americans say they maintain a shrine, altar or icon in their home; 12% possess crystals for spiritual purposes; and 9% have a tattoo or piercing for a spiritual purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;how-many-americans-are-spiritual&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-many-americans-are-spiritual\">How many Americans are spiritual?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-200-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-09-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80857\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d6e2e7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d6e2e7;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-09.png?resize=404,892 404w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"442\" width=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-09.png?w=200\" alt=\"Chart shows 22% of Americans are spiritual but not religious\" class=\"wp-image-80857 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Seven-in-ten U.S. adults think of themselves as spiritual or say that spirituality is very important in their lives.<\/strong> To be sure, most of these people also consider themselves religious or say that religion is very important in their lives. There is enough overlap between what people mean by \u201cspirituality\u201d and what they have in mind by \u201creligion\u201d that nearly half of U.S. adults indicate they are <em>both<\/em> religious and spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Still,<\/strong> <strong>22% of U.S. adults fall into the category of spiritual but<em> not <\/em>religious.<\/strong> The new survey offers a rich portrait of this group, showing what beliefs they hold, how they practice their spirituality, and how they tend to differ from U.S. adults who embrace the \u201creligious\u201d label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;what-do-spiritual-but-not-religious-people-believe&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-do-spiritual-but-not-religious-people-believe\">What do \u2018spiritual but not religious\u2019 people believe?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey finds that on many questions, <strong>\u201cspiritual but not religious\u201d Americans \u2013 SBNRs, for short \u2013 are no <em>more<\/em> spiritual, on average, than U.S. adults who are both religious and spiritual. <\/strong>For example, large majorities in both groups say they believe \u201cpeople have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body.\u201d Smaller majorities of both groups believe in the existence of \u201cspirits or unseen spiritual forces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-010-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80859\"><img data-dominant-color=\"cfe0e8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #cfe0e8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?resize=480,331 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?resize=782,539 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?resize=960,662 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?resize=1200,827 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?resize=1280,882 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"441\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-010.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows by several measures, SBNRs are no more spiritual than Americans who are both religious and spiritual\" class=\"wp-image-80859 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But SBNRs are more likely to see spiritual forces at work in nature.<\/strong> For example, 71% of SBNRs believe that spirits or spiritual energies can be found in parts of nature like mountains, rivers or trees. Far fewer adults who are both religious and spiritual (46%) share this belief. Also, most SBNRs say that being connected with nature is \u201cessential\u201d to what being spiritual means to them (59%), an outlook that is less common among Americans who describe themselves as both religious and spiritual (35%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/pr_2023-12-07_spirituality_00-011-png\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-80864\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dce8ed\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dce8ed;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?resize=480,332 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?resize=782,541 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?resize=960,665 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?resize=1200,831 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?resize=1280,886 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"443\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.07_spirituality_00-011.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows SBNRs are more likely than religious-and-spiritual Americans to say animals, places, objects can have spirits\" class=\"wp-image-80864 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SBNRs are much less likely than Americans who are both religious and spiritual to believe in the God of the Bible <\/strong>(20% vs. 84%). On the other hand, they are much <em>more <\/em>likely to say they believe there is \u201csome other higher power or spiritual force in the universe\u201d (73% vs. 15%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spiritual but not religious Americans express more negative views of organized religion<\/strong> <strong>than religious-and-spiritual adults do.<\/strong> For example, 42% of SBNRs say religion causes division and intolerance, while just 12% of religious-and-spiritual adults take that position. And 13% of SBNRs say that the statement \u201creligion encourages people to do the right thing and treat other people well,\u201d describes their views a \u201cgreat deal\u201d compared with 57% of Americans who are both religious and spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Very few SBNRs attend religious worship services.<\/strong> Just 2% say they attend weekly or more often, compared with 40% of adults who are both religious and spiritual. SBNRs are also less likely than religious-and-spiritual Americans to say they are involved in a spiritual community that is extremely or very important to them (5% vs. 14%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But<\/strong> <strong>SBNRs are somewhat more likely than religious-and-spiritual U.S. adults to spend time \u201clooking inward or centering\u201d themselves: <\/strong>78% of SBNRs say they do this at least a few times each month, as do 67% of adults who are both religious and spiritual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, although they don\u2019t consider themselves religious or say religion is very important in their lives, <strong>many SBNRs <em>do<\/em> claim a religious affiliation.<\/strong> When asked about their present religion, 45% say they are affiliated with a religion \u2013 including 21% who identify as Protestant and 12% who identify as Catholic \u2013 while 54% say they are religiously unaffiliated (i.e., atheist, agnostic or \u201cnothing in particular\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information on spiritual but not religious Americans, including their political leanings and their age, education, gender and other demographic characteristics, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans\/\">Chapter 5<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overall, 70% of U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious. An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. And 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":80869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"7 in 10 U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious","sub_title":"7 in 10 U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_api_pending":"","apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_hidden":false,"relatedPosts":[],"reportMaterials":[{"key":"_3lmn62ctj","type":"topline","attachmentId":80813,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_TOPLINE.pdf"},{"key":"_mr95ry15e","type":"report","attachmentId":80881,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_REPORT.pdf"}],"multiSectionReport":[{"key":"_mp8zj2bjt","postId":69555},{"key":"_xs10ub4rm","postId":69591},{"key":"_6ct56ljlv","postId":69577},{"key":"_ylbagcn3s","postId":69584},{"key":"_k0bgbzu3d","postId":69569},{"key":"_utyl8ks9z","postId":69550},{"key":"_91xzvzz8g","postId":69562}],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[382,161,372,369,169,195],"tags":[],"bylines":[571,975,600,744,622],"collection":[],"datasets":[2445],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[],"research-teams":[517],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-69597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atheism-agnosticism","category-beliefs-practices","category-death-dying","category-happiness-life-satisfaction","category-non-religion-secularism","category-religiously-unaffiliated","bylines-asta-kallo","bylines-becka-alper","bylines-michael-rotolo","bylines-justin-nortey","bylines-patricia-tevington","datasets-american-trends-panel-wave-132","formats-report","research-teams-religion"],"label":false,"post_parent":0,"word_count":2609,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"social":{"id":80869,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured-jpg.webp?w=1200&h=628&crop=1","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"(Bj\u00f6rn Forenius\/Getty Images)","chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[{"id":69597,"title":"Spirituality Among Americans","slug":"spirituality-among-americans","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/","is_active":true},{"id":69555,"title":"1. Measuring spirituality","slug":"measuring-spirituality","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/","is_active":false},{"id":69591,"title":"2. Spiritual beliefs","slug":"spiritual-beliefs","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-beliefs\/","is_active":false},{"id":69577,"title":"3. Spiritual practices","slug":"spiritual-practices","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/","is_active":false},{"id":69584,"title":"4. Spiritual experiences","slug":"spiritual-experiences","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-experiences\/","is_active":false},{"id":69569,"title":"5. Who are \u2018spiritual but not religious\u2019 Americans?","slug":"who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans\/","is_active":false},{"id":69550,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"spirituality-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":69562,"title":"Methodology","slug":"spirituality-methodology","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-methodology\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":[{"key":"_3lmn62ctj","type":"topline","attachmentId":80813,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_TOPLINE.pdf"},{"key":"_mr95ry15e","type":"report","attachmentId":80881,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_REPORT.pdf"},{"type":"dataset","id":2445,"label":"American Trends Panel Wave 132","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/american-trends-panel-wave-132\/"}],"report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":69597,"title":"Spirituality Among Americans","slug":"spirituality-among-americans","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/","is_active":true,"page_num":1},"next_post":{"id":69555,"title":"1. Measuring spirituality","slug":"measuring-spirituality","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},"previous_post":null,"pagination_items":[{"id":69597,"title":"Spirituality Among Americans","slug":"spirituality-among-americans","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-among-americans\/","is_active":true,"page_num":1},{"id":69555,"title":"1. Measuring spirituality","slug":"measuring-spirituality","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},{"id":69591,"title":"2. Spiritual beliefs","slug":"spiritual-beliefs","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-beliefs\/","is_active":false,"page_num":3},{"id":69577,"title":"3. Spiritual practices","slug":"spiritual-practices","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-practices\/","is_active":false,"page_num":4},{"id":69584,"title":"4. Spiritual experiences","slug":"spiritual-experiences","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spiritual-experiences\/","is_active":false,"page_num":5},{"id":69569,"title":"5. Who are \u2018spiritual but not religious\u2019 Americans?","slug":"who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans\/","is_active":false,"page_num":6},{"id":69550,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"spirituality-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false,"page_num":7},{"id":69562,"title":"Methodology","slug":"spirituality-methodology","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/spirituality-methodology\/","is_active":false,"page_num":8}]},"parent_info":{"parent_title":"Spirituality Among Americans","parent_id":69597},"materialsOrdered":[{"key":"_3lmn62ctj","type":"topline","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_TOPLINE.pdf","attachmentId":80813},{"key":"_mr95ry15e","type":"report","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PR_2023.12.7_spirituality_REPORT.pdf","attachmentId":80881}],"chaptersOrdered":[{"key":"_mp8zj2bjt","postId":69555},{"key":"_xs10ub4rm","postId":69591},{"key":"_6ct56ljlv","postId":69577},{"key":"_ylbagcn3s","postId":69584},{"key":"_k0bgbzu3d","postId":69569},{"key":"_utyl8ks9z","postId":69550},{"key":"_91xzvzz8g","postId":69562}],"partsOrdered":[],"partsEnabled":false,"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"Spirituality Among Americans","description":"Overall, 70% of U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious. An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. And 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.","og_title":"Spirituality Among Americans","og_description":"Overall, 70% of U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious. An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. And 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.","schema_type":"Article","noindex":false,"canonical_url":"","primary_terms":{"category":161,"formats":458,"research-teams":517},"custom_schema":[],"og_image":80869,"indexnow_submitted_at":null,"gsc_index_status":null},"prepublish_checks":{"prc-image-alt-text":{"status":"incomplete","message":"1 image is missing alt text.","data":{"count":1}},"prc-about-this-research":{"status":"incomplete","message":"Add an \"About this research\" details block.","data":null},"prc-paragraph-count":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 50 paragraphs.","data":{"count":50}},"prc-internal-link":{"status":"complete","message":"Found 29 internal links.","data":{"count":29}}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/12\/PF_23.12.07_spirituality_featured.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"relatedPostsOrdered":[],"bylinesOrdered":[{"key":"_zrw2zv3pj","termId":975},{"key":"_zgdsnhm88","termId":600},{"key":"_u46jobt4z","termId":622},{"key":"_xolm7m176","termId":744},{"key":"_4n4mzi591","termId":571}],"acknowledgementsOrdered":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/581"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69597"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":274072,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69597\/revisions\/274072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"bylines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bylines?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"datasets","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/datasets?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"level_of_effort","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/level_of_effort?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"primary_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/primary_audience?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"information_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/information_type?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"_post_visibility","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_post_visibility?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"formats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/formats?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"_fund_pool","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_fund_pool?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"languages","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/languages?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"regions-countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regions-countries?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"research-teams","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-teams?post=69597"},{"taxonomy":"workflow-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/workflow-status?post=69597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}