Around the World, Many People Are Leaving Their Childhood Religions
In many places surveyed, 20% or more of all adults have left their childhood religious group. Christianity and Buddhism have had especially large losses.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Middle East & North Africa
Comparing Levels of Religious Nationalism Around the World
We asked people in three dozen countries how they see religion’s role in society, government and national identity.
Majority in U.S. Say Israel Has Valid Reasons for Fighting; Fewer Say the Same About Hamas
57% of Americans express some sympathy with both Israelis and Palestinians, including 26% who say their sympathies lie equally with both groups.
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Memorial Day: About half of veterans of post-9/11 wars served with someone who was killed
About half of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans (47%) said that they served with a comrade that had been killed. That number rises to 62% among soldiers who were in combat.
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More Approve Than Disapprove of Iran Talks, But Most Think Iranians Are ‘Not Serious’
Survey Report Ahead of a March 31 deadline for nuclear talks with Iran, more Americans approve (49%) than disapprove (40%) of the United States negotiating directly with Iran over its nuclear program. But the public remains skeptical of whether Iranian leaders are serious about addressing international concerns over their nuclear enrichment program. If a nuclear […]
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Americans (especially Republicans) distrustful of Iran as nuclear deal looms
Polls show an American public that is deeply skeptical of an agreement and shows little trust in Iran’s leadership.
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Latest Trends in Religious Restrictions and Hostilities
Social hostilities toward religion declined in 2013, while government restrictions on religious beliefs and practices remained level. Harassment of Jews, however, reached a seven-year high.
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Growing Support for Campaign Against ISIS – and Possible Use of U.S. Ground Troops
Survey Report The public has grown more supportive of the U.S. fight against ISIS, as about twice as many approve (63%) as disapprove (30%) of the military campaign against the Islamic militant group in Iraq and Syria. Last October, 57% approved and 33% disapproved. The possibility of sending U.S. ground troops to the region is […]
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Widespread concerns about extremism in Muslim nations, and little support for it
The horrific murder of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh has generated shock and outrage around the globe. And if recent history is a guide, this brutal act will only deepen opposition to ISIS, and to violent extremism more generally, in Jordan and other predominantly Muslim nations.
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Pope Francis’ Image Positive in Much of World
Pope Francis, leader of the world’s nearly 1.1 billion Catholics, enjoys broad support across much of the world: a median of 60% across 43 nations have a favorable view of him. Only 11% see the pope unfavorably, and 28% give no rating.
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64 countries have religious symbols on their national flags
Of the 64 countries in this category, about half have Christian symbols (48%) and about a third include Islamic religious symbols (33%).
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Unrest in the Middle East taking a toll on people’s outlooks
The pervasive conflicts that have gripped the Middle East over recent years have also taken a serious toll on the outlook of people across the region.
