Belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say they…
Survey year | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 54% | 22% | 7% | 1% | 14% | 3% | 15,172 |
2007 | 64% | 21% | 5% | 1% | 7% | 3% | 15,447 |
Learn More: Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God
Belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by religious group
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say they…
Religious tradition | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 59% | 29% | 7% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 3,119 |
Evangelical Protestant | 84% | 13% | 2% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 3,202 |
Historically Black Protestant | 85% | 13% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 538 |
Jewish | 29% | 27% | 16% | 1% | 21% | 6% | 487 |
Mainline Protestant | 60% | 30% | 6% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2,679 |
Mormon | 81% | 14% | 3% | < 1% | 1% | 2% | 175 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 21% | 21% | 11% | < 1% | 40% | 6% | 4,330 |
Learn More: Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God
Switch Display To: religious group among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are ages…
Belief in God | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 23% | 37% | 28% | 13% | 7,745 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 28% | 35% | 25% | 12% | 3,351 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 35% | 35% | 18% | 12% | 1,038 |
Do not believe in God | 39% | 33% | 17% | 12% | 2,215 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 32% | 35% | 18% | 14% | 462 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by age group
Generational cohort among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 14% | 15% | 30% | 33% | 7% | < 1% | 7,745 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 18% | 17% | 28% | 29% | 8% | 1% | 3,351 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 24% | 19% | 27% | 21% | 8% | 1% | 1,038 |
Do not believe in God | 27% | 20% | 24% | 20% | 7% | 1% | 2,215 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 19% | 21% | 27% | 23% | 9% | 1% | 462 |
Gender composition among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 45% | 55% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 53% | 47% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 61% | 39% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 67% | 33% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 67% | 33% | 479 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who identify as…
Belief in God | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 71% | 12% | 2% | 11% | 4% | 7,808 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 74% | 7% | 4% | 12% | 3% | 3,371 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 68% | 5% | 9% | 16% | 3% | 1,036 |
Do not believe in God | 78% | 2% | 8% | 9% | 3% | 2,223 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 84% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 464 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 10% | 9% | 81% | 7,784 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 12% | 10% | 78% | 3,366 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 19% | 14% | 67% | 1,041 |
Do not believe in God | 12% | 16% | 72% | 2,222 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 8% | 11% | 81% | 467 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by immigrant status
Income distribution among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who have a household income of…
Belief in God | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 33% | 22% | 28% | 18% | 6,866 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 29% | 21% | 28% | 22% | 2,998 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 31% | 16% | 28% | 25% | 962 |
Do not believe in God | 23% | 19% | 30% | 28% | 2,043 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 23% | 20% | 28% | 29% | 391 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by household income
Educational distribution among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who have completed…
Belief in God | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 45% | 33% | 15% | 7% | 7,846 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 42% | 31% | 16% | 11% | 3,392 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 41% | 27% | 19% | 13% | 1,046 |
Do not believe in God | 31% | 30% | 24% | 15% | 2,238 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 30% | 34% | 22% | 15% | 475 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by educational group
Marital status among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 52% | 6% | 13% | 5% | 25% | 7,877 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 48% | 10% | 10% | 4% | 29% | 3,392 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 40% | 10% | 8% | 4% | 37% | 1,050 |
Do not believe in God | 39% | 11% | 8% | 2% | 40% | 2,235 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 46% | 8% | 11% | 4% | 31% | 472 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 34% | 66% | 7,867 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 31% | 69% | 3,394 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 26% | 74% | 1,048 |
Do not believe in God | 21% | 79% | 2,238 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 27% | 73% | 474 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say religion is…
Belief in God | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 65% | 28% | 4% | 2% | < 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 17% | 52% | 24% | 7% | < 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 5% | 29% | 43% | 23% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 6% | 23% | 69% | < 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 2% | 19% | 38% | 39% | 2% | 479 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who attend religious services…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 37% | 40% | 22% | < 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 13% | 43% | 44% | < 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 4% | 36% | 60% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 16% | 82% | < 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 3% | 24% | 72% | < 1% | 479 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who pray…
Belief in God | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 63% | 21% | 5% | 11% | 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 24% | 24% | 14% | 38% | 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 10% | 9% | 11% | 69% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 1% | 2% | 96% | < 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 5% | 7% | 5% | 81% | 2% | 479 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who attend prayer group…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 22% | 10% | 10% | 57% | < 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 5% | 5% | 6% | 84% | < 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 2% | 3% | 4% | 91% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 1% | 1% | 98% | < 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 1% | 1% | 3% | 94% | 1% | 479 |
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 58% | 17% | 11% | 13% | 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 32% | 20% | 17% | 31% | 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 20% | 15% | 15% | 48% | 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 22% | 13% | 9% | 54% | 2% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 26% | 12% | 10% | 47% | 6% | 479 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 34% | 16% | 14% | 36% | 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 30% | 18% | 18% | 33% | 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 34% | 16% | 17% | 32% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 38% | 19% | 14% | 29% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 36% | 19% | 18% | 26% | 1% | 479 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Belief in God | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 41% | 6% | 46% | 5% | 2% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 10% | 12% | 66% | 11% | 2% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 4% | 17% | 60% | 17% | 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 17% | 53% | 29% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 2% | 17% | 61% | 15% | 5% | 479 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say…
Belief in God | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 38% | 60% | 1% | 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 25% | 73% | 1% | 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 22% | 76% | 1% | 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 16% | 82% | 1% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 17% | 80% | 2% | 1% | 479 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who read scripture…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 34% | 13% | 10% | 43% | 1% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 7% | 8% | 9% | 77% | < 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 3% | 4% | 4% | 89% | < 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 2% | 3% | 94% | < 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 3% | 4% | 3% | 88% | 1% | 479 |
Interpreting scripture among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say the holy scripture is…
Belief in God | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 38% | 37% | 3% | 15% | 6% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 11% | 32% | 1% | 48% | 8% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 6% | 11% | < 1% | 75% | 8% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 2% | < 1% | 94% | 3% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | < 1% | 4% | 1% | 79% | 17% | 479 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who …in heaven
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 89% | 6% | 5% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 74% | 18% | 8% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 42% | 44% | 13% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 5% | 91% | 3% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 17% | 44% | 39% | 479 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who …in hell
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 75% | 19% | 7% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 53% | 39% | 9% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 31% | 57% | 12% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 5% | 93% | 3% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 12% | 57% | 30% | 479 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who identify as…
Belief in God | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 46% | 17% | 36% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 37% | 19% | 44% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 28% | 18% | 54% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 21% | 17% | 62% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 29% | 25% | 46% | 479 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among adults who seldom or never meditate by political party
Political ideology among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who are…
Belief in God | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 33% | 16% | 6% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 27% | 41% | 26% | 6% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 20% | 39% | 35% | 6% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 14% | 32% | 48% | 7% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 20% | 36% | 33% | 11% | 479 |
Views about size of government among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who would rather have…
Belief in God | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 57% | 38% | 2% | 3% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 52% | 42% | 2% | 3% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 48% | 46% | 3% | 3% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 45% | 49% | 3% | 3% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 53% | 33% | 5% | 9% | 479 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say government aid to the poor…
Belief in God | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 52% | 43% | 3% | 2% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 47% | 49% | 3% | 1% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 41% | 55% | 3% | 2% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 32% | 64% | 3% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 42% | 49% | 7% | 2% | 479 |
Views about abortion among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say abortion should be…
Belief in God | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 52% | 4% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 66% | 31% | 3% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 76% | 22% | 3% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 85% | 12% | 3% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 78% | 14% | 8% | 479 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say homosexuality…
Belief in God | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 55% | 37% | 4% | 4% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 80% | 15% | 3% | 2% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 83% | 13% | 2% | 2% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 91% | 7% | 1% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 80% | 11% | 4% | 4% | 479 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who …same-sex marriage
Belief in God | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 46% | 47% | 7% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 71% | 23% | 7% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 78% | 17% | 5% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 88% | 8% | 4% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 77% | 15% | 8% | 479 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say…
Belief in God | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 50% | 2% | 3% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 36% | 60% | 2% | 2% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 30% | 66% | 2% | 1% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 22% | 75% | 1% | 2% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 31% | 60% | 3% | 5% | 479 |
Views about human evolution among adults who seldom or never meditate by belief in God
% of adults who seldom or never meditate who say humans…
Belief in God | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 18% | 32% | 3% | 43% | 4% | 7,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 48% | 25% | 5% | 20% | 3% | 3,404 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 69% | 11% | 4% | 14% | 2% | 1,052 |
Do not believe in God | 87% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 1% | 2,243 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 74% | 5% | 12% | 5% | 5% | 479 |