Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their ‘true self’ or with something bigger than themselves | Pew Research Center

December 4, 2023

Spirituality Among Americans

Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their ‘true self’ or with something bigger than themselves

Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their ‘true self’ or with something bigger than themselves

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Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their ‘true self’ or with something bigger than themselves

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Spirituality Among Americans
Most Americans believe people have a soul or spirit
Most spiritual Americans say being connected with ‘something bigger than myself’ is essential to being spiritual
Roughly half of Americans believe that animals, graveyards and parts of nature can have spirits or spiritual energies
42% of Americans believe the dead can communicate with the living
44% of Americans say they feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once or twice a month
45% of Americans have ever had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world
Many Americans say they explore nature or center themselves mainly to connect with their ‘true self’ or with something bigger than themselves
48% of Americans have at least one of the following for spiritual purposes
22% of Americans are spiritual but not religious
By several measures, SBNRs are no more spiritual than Americans who are both religious and spiritual
SBNRs are more likely than religious-and-spiritual Americans to say animals, places, objects can have spirits