pewforum.org Topics Beliefs & Practices

Other Beliefs & Practices

Religion informs a wide variety of beliefs, ranging from views on morality to ideas about life after death to faith in miracles and the supernatural. Religious practices such as speaking in tongues or reading Scripture also can be important components of religious experience.

 

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POLL July 19, 2012
Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths
When it comes to religion, the Asian-American community is a study in contrasts, encompassing groups that run the gamut from highly religious to highly secular. A new survey report examines the Asian-American population from the angle of religious affiliation, highlighting the beliefs, practices and views of Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, the religiously unaffiliated and other faiths. 
POLL September 28, 2010
U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey
The Pew Forum’s religious knowledge survey included 32 questions about various aspects of religion: the Bible, Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism, world religions, religion in public life, and atheism and agnosticism. The average respondent answered 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions correctly.
POLL February 17, 2010
Religion Among the Millennials
By some key measures, Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans. Yet in other ways, Millennials remain fairly traditional in their religious beliefs and practices.
ANALYSIS December 9, 2009
Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths
The religious beliefs and practices of Americans do not fit neatly into conventional categories. A new poll by the Pew Forum finds that large numbers of Americans engage in multiple religious practices, mixing elements of diverse traditions.
ANALYSIS October 28, 2009
The "Zeal of the Convert": Is It the Real Deal?
A recent Pew Forum analysis finds that people who have switched faiths (or joined a faith after being raised unaffiliated with a religion) are indeed slightly more religious than those who have remained in their childhood faith.
POLL July 24, 2009
A Portrait of Mormons in the U.S.
This report, based on data from the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, explores Mormons' unique place in the American religious landscape and is divided into three parts: demographic characteristics, religious beliefs and practices, and social and political views.
ANALYSIS January 30, 2009
A Religious Portrait of African-Americans
While the U.S. is generally considered a highly religious nation, African-Americans are markedly more religious on a variety of measures than the U.S. population as a whole, including level of affiliation with a religion, attendance at religious services, frequency of prayer and religion's importance in life.
ANALYSIS December 18, 2008
Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life
A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. Indeed, among Christians who believe many religions can lead to eternal life, 80% name at least one non-Christian faith that can do so.
ANALYSIS December 11, 2008
Being Good for Goodness' Sake?
A 2007 survey by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project found that a majority of Americans say it is necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values.
ANALYSIS December 4, 2008
The Importance of Pilgrimage to Muslim Americans
The Pew Research Center's 2007 Muslim American survey found that nearly two-thirds of U.S. Muslims say that taking a pilgrimage to Mecca is very important to them.
POLL August 24, 2006
Many Americans Uneasy with Mix of Religion and Politics
69% Say Liberals Too Secular, 49% Say Conservatives Too Assertive August 24, 2006 Download the complete report Navigate this Report Introduction and Summary Section I - Religion and Public Life Section II - Religion and Politics Section III - Reli...
POLL July 18, 2006
Religion and Stem Cell Research
A Pew Forum Fact Sheet In August 2005, the Pew Forum released poll data indicating a steady increase in support for stem cell research since 2002. The report showed increases among evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics. Rough...
POLL August 30, 2005
Public Divided on Origins of Life
Religion A Strength And Weakness For Both Parties August 30, 2005 Download the complete report Navigate this Report Executive Summary Contrasting Party Images: The Political Parties and Religion Evolution & Creationism Religion & Politics ...
POLL April 15, 2005
American Evangelicals and Israel
Download this Fact Sheet (388K .pdf) Recent surveys by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life demonstrate that American evangelical Protestants have distinctive — and highly positive — attitudes towards the state of Israel. This g...
POLL November 18, 2003
Religious Beliefs Underpin Opposition to Homosexuality
November 18, 2003 Download the complete report Navigate this Report Part 1: Opinion of Homosexuals Part 2: Gay Marriage About this Survey Questionnaire Opposition to gay marriage has increased since the summer and a narrow majority of Americans al...
POLL July 24, 2003
Religion and Politics: Contention and Consensus
Religion is a critical factor these days in the public's thinking about contentious policy issues and political matters.