{"id":198624,"date":"2025-02-26T06:09:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T11:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=198624"},"modified":"2026-06-10T09:03:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T13:03:49","slug":"religious-and-spiritual-beliefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-and-spiritual-beliefs\/","title":{"rendered":"11. Religious and spiritual beliefs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in a spiritual realm beyond the physical world remains very common among U.S. adults, the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS) finds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly eight-in-ten Americans believe \u201cthere is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.\u201d Similar or slightly larger numbers say they believe that God or a universal spirit exists (83%), and that humans have a soul or spirit in addition to a physical body (86%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large majorities of Christians and Muslims hold each of these beliefs, as do more than half of all Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and religiously unaffiliated adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in heaven and belief in hell are less widespread, but still held by most Americans, including most Christians and Muslims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, Americans across religious categories \u2013 including most religiously unaffiliated adults \u2013 say they have spent at least some time in recent years thinking about God and religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199192\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d4e6ec\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d4e6ec;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?resize=480,245 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?resize=782,400 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?resize=960,491 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?resize=1200,613 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?resize=1280,654 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"327\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-01.png?w=1024\" alt=\"Bar chart showing most U.S. adults believe in God or a universal spirit, the existence of a human soul, and that there is something spiritual beyond the natural world\" class=\"wp-image-199192 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the years, Americans overall have become slightly less likely to believe in heaven or hell, or to believe in God or a universal spirit with absolute certainty. This partly reflects the fact that religiously unaffiliated adults \u2013 those who identify as atheist, agnostic or \u201cnothing in particular\u201d \u2013 make up a growing share of the population, and they are less likely than other groups to hold these types of beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey also asked about human evolution. Most U.S. adults believe that humans have evolved over time, including 33% who say that God had no role in human evolution, and 47% who say that humans have evolved due to processes that were guided or allowed by God or a higher power. A smaller share of the public (17%) believes humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read on for specific religious groups\u2019 beliefs about:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#something-spiritual-beyond-the-natural-world\">Something spiritual beyond the natural world<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#human-souls\">Human souls<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#belief-in-heaven\">Belief in heaven<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#belief-in-hell\">Belief in hell<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#belief-in-god\">Belief in God<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#human-evolution\">Human evolution<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#thinking-about-god-and-religion\">Thinking about God and religion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;something-spiritual-beyond-the-natural-world&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"something-spiritual-beyond-the-natural-world\">Something spiritual beyond the natural world<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large majority of Americans (79%) believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we can\u2019t see it. Far fewer (19%) say they believe the natural world is all there is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199193\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d1e3ea\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d1e3ea;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-02.png?resize=480,1082 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-02.png?resize=620,1398 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"699\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-02.png?w=454\" alt=\"Bar chart showing most religiously unaffiliated Americans believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world\" class=\"wp-image-199193 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nine-in-ten Christians say they believe in something beyond the natural world, including 93% of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (widely known as Mormons), 92% of Protestants, 86% of Catholics and 77% of Orthodox Christians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the non-Christian religious groups we analyzed, Muslims are the most likely to believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world: 80% say this, compared with smaller majorities of Buddhists (70%), Hindus (69%) and Jews (60%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among Americans who are religiously unaffiliated, there is a wide range of views. The vast majority of self-described atheists (80%) say the natural world is all there is, though 19% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world. Two-thirds of Americans who describe their religious identity as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d and 55% of agnostics believe in something beyond the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;human-souls&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"human-souls\">Human souls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vast majority of Americans (86%) believe that humans have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical bodies. This view is held by nearly all Christians (95%) along with 90% of Buddhists and 88% of Muslims. Large majorities of Hindus (84%), people who say their religion is \u201cnothing in particular\u201d (79%), Jews (74%) and agnostics (67%) also believe that humans have a soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Again, atheists stand out from other religiously unaffiliated adults: Just one-third of atheists say they believe that humans have a soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199194\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c9e2eb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c9e2eb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-03.png?resize=480,957 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-03.png?resize=620,1236 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"618\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-03.png?w=514\" alt=\"Bar chart showing the vast majority of U.S. adults believe people have souls\" class=\"wp-image-199194 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;belief-in-heaven&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"belief-in-heaven\">Belief in heaven<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most Americans say they think there is a heaven \u201cwhere people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199195\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f1f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f1f1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-04.png?resize=480,859 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-04.png?resize=620,1110 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"555\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-04.png?w=572\" alt=\"Table showing belief in heaven is stable among religiously affiliated Americans\" class=\"wp-image-199195 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among Americans who are affiliated with a religion, the share who believe in heaven has been stable since 2007.[56. numoffset=&#8221;56&#8243; Comparisons between the new Religious Landscape Study (RLS) and the earlier studies are complicated by important differences in the ways the surveys were conducted. The first two landscape surveys were conducted by telephone, but the 2023-24 study was conducted mainly online and on paper. This \u201cmode shift\u201d affects the results of some survey questions more than others. Analysis of a nationwide telephone survey, which was conducted alongside the 2023-24 RLS for testing purposes, indicates that self-administered surveys (like the new RLS) and interviewer-administered surveys (like the earlier studies) produce similar estimates of the shares of people who believe in heaven and hell. Estimates of the shares of people who <em>don\u2019t<\/em> believe in heaven and hell are less comparable; self-administered surveys yield more \u201cDon\u2019t believe\u201d responses, while interviewer-administered surveys yield more people declining to answer the questions. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies\/\">Appendix A<\/a> for additional details.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the share of all U.S. adults who believe in heaven has declined. This is driven partly by the growing segment of Americans who describe themselves as atheist or agnostic, or who say their religion is \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d These religious \u201cnones\u201d have become less likely to believe in heaven since 2007, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-religious-identity\/#trends-among-religiously-unaffiliated-americans\">even as their ranks have grown<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in heaven, as defined in the survey, is most common among Christians (85%) and Muslims (83%). It is less common among Buddhists (52%), Hindus (48%) and Jews (39%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly half of adults who describe themselves as having no particular religion say they think there is a heaven where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded, as do 17% of agnostics and a relatively small share of atheists (5%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;belief-in-hell&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"belief-in-hell\">Belief in hell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey also asked about the existence of a hell \u201cwhere people who have led bad lives, and die without being sorry, are eternally punished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199196\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f2f2f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f2f2f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-05.png?resize=480,827 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-05.png?resize=620,1068 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"534\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-05.png?w=594\" alt=\"Table showing belief in hell is up among U.S. Catholics\" class=\"wp-image-199196 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in hell is somewhat less common than belief in heaven (55% vs. 67%). But the share of religiously affiliated Americans who believe in hell has ticked up slightly over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in hell is most common among evangelical Protestants (82%), members of historically Black Protestant traditions (81%) and Muslims (77%). Somewhat smaller shares of Catholics (69%), Orthodox Christians (60%), mainline Protestants (59%) and Latter-day Saints (54%) say they believe in hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, 43% of Buddhists and 42% of Hindus surveyed say they believe in hell as defined in the survey, as do 25% of religiously unaffiliated adults and 22% of Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;belief-in-god&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"belief-in-god\">Belief in God<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most Americans believe in God or a universal spirit, and slightly more than half of all U.S. adults say they are <em>absolutely certain<\/em> in this belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199197\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3f3f3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-06.png?resize=480,817 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-06.png?resize=782,1331 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-06.png?resize=840,1430 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"715\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-06.png?w=602\" alt=\"Table showing most Americans believe in God\" class=\"wp-image-199197 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As in our past surveys, the vast majority of Christians (97%) and Muslims (93%) say they believe in God, and most people in these religious groups express this belief with absolute certainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Belief in God is less universal, but still fairly common, among Hindus (85%), Buddhists (74%) and Jews (72%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even among religiously unaffiliated Americans, more than half say they believe in God or a universal spirit. This view is partly driven by the 69% of adults who say their religion is \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d In comparison, 43% of agnostics and 7% of atheists hold this view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"belief-in-god-over-time\">Belief in God over time<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The share of U.S. adults who believe in God or a universal spirit has declined over time, and the share who hold this belief with absolute certainty has declined even more.[57. Comparisons between the new RLS and the earlier studies are complicated by important differences in the ways the surveys were conducted. The first two landscape surveys were conducted by telephone, but the 2023-24 study was conducted mainly online and on paper. This \u201cmode shift\u201d affects the results of some survey questions more than others. Analysis of a nationwide telephone survey, which was conducted alongside the 2023-24 RLS for testing purposes, indicates that self-administered surveys (like the new RLS) and interviewer-administered surveys (like the earlier studies) produce similar estimates of the shares of people who believe in God with varying levels of certainty. Estimates of the share of people who <em>don\u2019t<\/em> believe in God are less comparable; self-administered surveys yield more \u201cDon\u2019t believe\u201d responses, while interviewer-administered surveys yield slightly more people declining to answer the question. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies\/\">Appendix A<\/a> for more details.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199198\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f1f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f1f1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-07.png?resize=480,1050 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-07.png?resize=620,1356 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"678\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-07.png?w=468\" alt=\"Table showing Americans overall are becoming less certain that God exists\" class=\"wp-image-199198 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, 83% of U.S. adults believe in God (9 percentage points less than in 2007). And 54% of U.S. adults believe in God with absolute certainty (17 points less than in 2007). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2007, most religiously affiliated groups have seen a decline in the share who are certain that God exists. For example, the share of Christians who say they are absolutely certain that God exists has ticked down from 80% in 2007, to 76% in 2014, to 73% in 2023-24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"don-t-believe-in-god\">Don\u2019t believe in God<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Relatively few U.S. adults are absolutely certain that God does <em>not<\/em> exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Atheists stand out as an exception. Not only do the vast majority of atheists reject belief in God or a universal spirit, but at least half also say they are absolutely certain in this belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new survey\u2019s estimate of the share of Americans who don\u2019t believe in God or a universal spirit cannot be directly compared with results from our previous religious landscape studies. That\u2019s because the new survey was conducted mainly online and on paper, whereas both the 2007 RLS and the 2014 RLS were conducted by telephone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199199\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f4f4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f4f4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-08.png?resize=480,709 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-08.png?resize=782,1154 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-08.png?resize=840,1240 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"620\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-08.png?w=694\" alt=\"Table showing half of U.S. atheists say they are absolutely certain there is no God\" class=\"wp-image-199199 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We conducted a telephone \u201cbridge study\u201d (for testing purposes only) to gauge the impact of this mode switch. Compared with respondents in the telephone bridge study, respondents in the main survey (conducted mainly online or on paper) were more likely to say they don\u2019t believe in God. So the estimate of the share of people who <em>don\u2019t<\/em> believe in God or a universal spirit in the <em>new<\/em> survey cannot be directly compared with the previous results. (Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies\/\">Appendix A<\/a> for additional details.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, both the 2023-24 RLS and the companion bridge study suggest that nonbelief has risen since 2007. The upshot is that we can be confident that the share of Americans who do not believe in God is higher than it was in 2007, but we cannot say by exactly how much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(These \u201cmode differences\u201d are smaller in the \u201cYes, believe in God or a universal spirit\u201d category. Additional details are provided in <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies\/\">Appendix A<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;human-evolution&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"human-evolution\">Human evolution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about evolution, U.S. adults most commonly say that humans have evolved over time due to processes that were guided or allowed by God or a higher power.[58. The 2014 RLS included different questions about human evolution that cannot be directly compared with the question in the new survey.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199200\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f2f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f2f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-09.png?resize=480,688 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-09.png?resize=782,1121 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-09.png?resize=840,1204 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"602\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-09.png?w=714\" alt=\"Table showing most U.S. Muslims and Christians say that human evolution was guided by God\" class=\"wp-image-199200 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The view that evolution has been guided or allowed by God is held by 47% of U.S. adults, including most Muslims (63%) and Christians (61%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, one-third of adults believe that humans have evolved over time due to processes such as natural selection and that God or a higher power had no role in this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This view is held by most Jews (64%), Buddhists (58%) and religiously unaffiliated adults (66%), as well as by roughly half of all Hindus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Very few evangelical Protestants (6%) or members of historically Black Protestant churches (12%) believe humans evolved without involvement from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Americans believe that humans have <em>not<\/em> evolved \u2013 that they have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. This view is held by 17% of U.S. adults, including 10% or more of all the groups in this analysis except for atheists and agnostics. Notably, about a quarter of evangelical Protestants (26%) and Orthodox Christians (23%) say humans have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;thinking-about-god-and-religion&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"thinking-about-god-and-religion\">Thinking about God and religion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they have thought about God and religion a great deal or quite a bit in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?attachment_id=199201\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f2f2f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f2f2f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-010.png?resize=480,881 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-010.png?resize=620,1138 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"569\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_011-010.png?w=558\" alt=\"Table showing most U.S. adults think about religion\" class=\"wp-image-199201 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This includes the vast majority of evangelical Protestants (90%) and members of the historically Black Protestant tradition (90%), as well as 86% of Latter-day Saints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller shares of people in other U.S. religious groups also say they\u2019ve thought about God and religion quite a bit or a great deal. This includes 68% of mainline Protestants, 70% of Catholics and 74% of Muslims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among religious groups in this analysis, around half or fewer of Hindus, Jews and Buddhists say they have thought about God and religion either a great deal or quite a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Religiously unaffiliated adults are among the least likely to say they think about God and religion, but 56% say they have thought <em>at least<\/em> <em>some<\/em> about these topics. Atheists are the only group in which most adults say they have given little or no thought to God and religion in recent years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most Americans think there\u2019s something spiritual beyond the natural world. Most also believe in heaven and hell, but these views are less widespread. Religious Landscape Study by Pew Research 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summary","slug":"religious-landscape-study-executive-summary","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-executive-summary\/","is_active":false},{"id":198574,"title":"1. Religious identity","slug":"religious-landscape-study-religious-identity","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-religious-identity\/","is_active":false},{"id":198579,"title":"2. Religious switching","slug":"religious-switching","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-switching\/","is_active":false},{"id":198584,"title":"3. Identifying with a religion because of culture, ethnicity or family background","slug":"identifying-with-a-religion-because-of-culture-ethnicity-or-family-background","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/identifying-with-a-religion-because-of-culture-ethnicity-or-family-background\/","is_active":false},{"id":198589,"title":"4. Religious intermarriage","slug":"religious-intermarriage","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-intermarriage\/","is_active":false},{"id":198594,"title":"5. Religious upbringing and childhood education","slug":"religious-upbringing-and-childhood-education","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-upbringing-and-childhood-education\/","is_active":false},{"id":198600,"title":"6. Religion, fertility and child-rearing","slug":"religion-fertility-and-child-rearing","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-fertility-and-child-rearing\/","is_active":false},{"id":198605,"title":"7. Importance of religion and the Bible","slug":"importance-of-religion-and-the-bible","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/importance-of-religion-and-the-bible\/","is_active":false},{"id":198610,"title":"8. Religious attendance and congregational involvement","slug":"religious-attendance-and-congregational-involvement","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-attendance-and-congregational-involvement\/","is_active":false},{"id":198615,"title":"9. Race and ethnicity in religious congregations","slug":"race-and-ethnicity-in-religious-congregations","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/race-and-ethnicity-in-religious-congregations\/","is_active":false},{"id":198620,"title":"10. Prayer and other religious practices","slug":"prayer-and-other-religious-practices","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/prayer-and-other-religious-practices\/","is_active":false},{"id":198624,"title":"11. Religious and spiritual beliefs","slug":"religious-and-spiritual-beliefs","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-and-spiritual-beliefs\/","is_active":true},{"id":198630,"title":"12. Spiritual experiences","slug":"religious-landscape-study-spiritual-experiences","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-spiritual-experiences\/","is_active":false},{"id":198635,"title":"13. Spiritual activities","slug":"spiritual-activities","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/spiritual-activities\/","is_active":false},{"id":198640,"title":"14. Spiritual and religious self-descriptions","slug":"spiritual-and-religious-self-descriptions","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/spiritual-and-religious-self-descriptions\/","is_active":false},{"id":198645,"title":"15. Religion, partisanship and ideology","slug":"religion-partisanship-and-ideology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-partisanship-and-ideology\/","is_active":false},{"id":198650,"title":"16. Religion and views on LGBTQ issues and abortion","slug":"religion-and-views-on-lgbtq-issues-and-abortion","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-lgbtq-issues-and-abortion\/","is_active":false},{"id":198654,"title":"17. Religion and views on gender, parenting and workforce participation","slug":"religion-and-views-on-gender-parenting-and-workforce-participation","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-gender-parenting-and-workforce-participation\/","is_active":false},{"id":198659,"title":"18. Religion and views on immigration and diversity","slug":"religion-and-views-on-immigration-and-diversity","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-immigration-and-diversity\/","is_active":false},{"id":198664,"title":"19. Religion and views on the environment","slug":"religion-and-views-on-the-environment","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-the-environment\/","is_active":false},{"id":198669,"title":"20. Religion and views on the role of government","slug":"religion-and-views-on-the-role-of-government","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-the-role-of-government\/","is_active":false},{"id":198691,"title":"21. Religion and views of right and wrong","slug":"religion-and-views-of-right-and-wrong","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-of-right-and-wrong\/","is_active":false},{"id":198696,"title":"22. Religion\u2019s role in public life","slug":"religious-landscape-study-religions-role-in-public-life","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-religions-role-in-public-life\/","is_active":false},{"id":198702,"title":"23. Religion and views of science","slug":"religion-and-views-of-science","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-of-science\/","is_active":false},{"id":198707,"title":"24. Age, race, education and other demographic traits of U.S. religious groups","slug":"age-race-education-and-other-demographic-traits-of-us-religious-groups","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/age-race-education-and-other-demographic-traits-of-us-religious-groups\/","is_active":false},{"id":199980,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"religious-landscape-study-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":198712,"title":"Methodology","slug":"religious-landscape-study-methodology","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religious-landscape-study-methodology\/","is_active":false},{"id":198570,"title":"Appendix A: Comparing results across Religious Landscape Studies","slug":"appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-a-comparing-results-across-religious-landscape-studies\/","is_active":false},{"id":199047,"title":"Appendix B: Classification of Protestant denominations","slug":"appendix-b-classification-of-protestant-denominations","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-b-classification-of-protestant-denominations\/","is_active":false},{"id":199014,"title":"Appendix C: Comparing the Center\u2019s religion trends with those of other major surveys","slug":"appendix-c-comparing-the-centers-religion-trends-with-those-of-other-major-surveys","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/appendix-c-comparing-the-centers-religion-trends-with-those-of-other-major-surveys\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":[{"key":"_hqbtxairn","type":"report","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_report.pdf","label":"Report PDF","attachmentId":201456},{"key":"_610p9lj1l","type":"topline","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_topline.pdf","label":"Topline","attachmentId":198817},{"key":"_cybgac6jo","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_bridge-study-topline.pdf ","label":"Bridge study topline","icon":"topline"},{"key":"_w3azbt40s","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_questionnaire-paper.pdf ","label":"English paper questionnaire","icon":"questionnaire"},{"key":"_0clxkxa7y","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_questionnaire-web-phone.pdf ","label":"English\/Spanish web\/phone questionnaire","icon":"questionnaire"},{"key":"_3v9yqe1pf","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/02\/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_questionnaire-spanish.pdf ","label":"Spanish paper questionnaire","icon":"questionnaire"},{"key":"_6csj20rbl","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religious-landscape-study\/","label":"Interactive: Religious Landscape Study","icon":"link"},{"key":"_hhdnnw2h1","type":"link","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0YAPvy6bK6M","label":"Video: Religion and Spirituality in America","icon":"video"},{"type":"dataset","id":2610,"label":"2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS) Dataset","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/2023-24-religious-landscape-study-rls-dataset\/"}],"report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":198624,"title":"11. 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Religion and views on the environment","slug":"religion-and-views-on-the-environment","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-the-environment\/","is_active":false,"page_num":21},{"id":198669,"title":"20. Religion and views on the role of government","slug":"religion-and-views-on-the-role-of-government","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-on-the-role-of-government\/","is_active":false,"page_num":22},{"id":198691,"title":"21. Religion and views of right and wrong","slug":"religion-and-views-of-right-and-wrong","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2025\/02\/26\/religion-and-views-of-right-and-wrong\/","is_active":false,"page_num":23},{"id":198696,"title":"22. 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