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 | 66% | 25% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 6,083 |
2007 | 73% | 21% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 7,470 |
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
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are ages…
Belief in God | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 15% | 28% | 30% | 27% | 3,900 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 18% | 33% | 25% | 24% | 1,521 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 23% | 28% | 25% | 23% | 271 |
Do not believe in God | 11% | 23% | 37% | 29% | 109 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by age group
Generational cohort among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 9% | 10% | 24% | 38% | 17% | 2% | 3,900 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 13% | 10% | 28% | 32% | 16% | 2% | 1,521 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 15% | 14% | 23% | 31% | 15% | 3% | 271 |
Do not believe in God | 8% | 5% | 21% | 41% | 21% | 3% | 109 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by generational group
Gender composition among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 41% | 59% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 50% | 50% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 62% | 38% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 71% | 29% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who identify as…
Belief in God | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 85% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 4% | 3,928 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 88% | 2% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 1,537 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 86% | 1% | 1% | 6% | 6% | 274 |
Do not believe in God | 96% | < 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 110 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 7% | 6% | 87% | 3,954 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 7% | 7% | 86% | 1,534 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 13% | 9% | 79% | 272 |
Do not believe in God | 10% | 6% | 84% | 109 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by immigrant status
Income distribution among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 31% | 21% | 28% | 20% | 3,392 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 23% | 18% | 29% | 30% | 1,367 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 23% | 14% | 29% | 34% | 243 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by household income
Educational distribution among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who have completed…
Belief in God | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 38% | 31% | 18% | 12% | 3,963 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 32% | 30% | 21% | 17% | 1,544 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 34% | 24% | 26% | 16% | 275 |
Do not believe in God | 42% | 17% | 24% | 17% | 110 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by educational group
Marital status among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 56% | 4% | 13% | 10% | 17% | 3,969 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 55% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 19% | 1,542 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 51% | 10% | 10% | 6% | 23% | 275 |
Do not believe in God | 51% | 5% | 12% | 10% | 22% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 26% | 74% | 3,981 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 28% | 72% | 1,545 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 20% | 80% | 275 |
Do not believe in God | 20% | 80% | 109 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Importance of religion in one's life among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 70% | 26% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 23% | 57% | 17% | 2% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 6% | 37% | 42% | 15% | < 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 6% | 22% | 45% | 27% | < 1% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by importance of religion
Attendance at religious services among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 41% | 40% | 18% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 18% | 50% | 31% | < 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 8% | 41% | 51% | < 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 5% | 31% | 62% | 2% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who pray…
Belief in God | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 68% | 20% | 4% | 6% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 29% | 31% | 14% | 25% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 14% | 16% | 15% | 54% | 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 11% | 8% | 4% | 77% | < 1% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 26% | 12% | 10% | 52% | < 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 7% | 7% | 9% | 76% | < 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 2% | 3% | 2% | 93% | < 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 1% | 1% | 98% | < 1% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by attendance at prayer groups
Frequency of meditation among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who meditate…
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 | 42% | 9% | 4% | 43% | 2% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 25% | 11% | 5% | 57% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 15% | 13% | 9% | 62% | 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 17% | 9% | 8% | 66% | < 1% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 65% | 17% | 8% | 8% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 38% | 23% | 17% | 21% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 35% | 19% | 14% | 31% | 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 25% | 9% | 13% | 51% | 2% | 111 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 46% | 15% | 13% | 25% | 2% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 38% | 19% | 18% | 24% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 39% | 16% | 17% | 27% | 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 35% | 19% | 20% | 24% | 2% | 111 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 39% | 8% | 46% | 5% | 2% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 11% | 15% | 63% | 8% | 2% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 3% | 19% | 65% | 12% | 2% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 6% | 14% | 60% | 20% | < 1% | 111 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 36% | 62% | 1% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 25% | 72% | 2% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 23% | 74% | 2% | 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 22% | 74% | 1% | 2% | 111 |
Frequency of reading scripture among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 40% | 14% | 12% | 32% | 1% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 11% | 12% | 12% | 64% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 6% | 5% | 8% | 80% | < 1% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 4% | 7% | 3% | 86% | < 1% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by frequency of reading scripture
Interpreting scripture among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 32% | 39% | 3% | 16% | 9% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 8% | 33% | 2% | 48% | 10% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 3% | 12% | < 1% | 78% | 7% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 6% | < 1% | 84% | 7% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by interpretation of scripture
Belief in Heaven among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who …in heaven
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 88% | 6% | 6% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 72% | 17% | 11% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 40% | 47% | 13% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 12% | 81% | 7% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who …in hell
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 69% | 21% | 10% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 48% | 40% | 11% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 27% | 62% | 11% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 10% | 86% | 4% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who identify as…
Belief in God | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 47% | 15% | 37% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 40% | 16% | 45% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 29% | 20% | 51% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 38% | 13% | 50% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by political party
Political ideology among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who are…
Belief in God | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 41% | 36% | 17% | 5% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 30% | 41% | 24% | 5% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 23% | 42% | 29% | 6% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 24% | 37% | 36% | 3% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by political ideology
Views about size of government among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 60% | 33% | 3% | 4% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 58% | 35% | 4% | 3% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 53% | 41% | 3% | 3% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 59% | 37% | 1% | 3% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by views about size of government
Views about government aid to the poor among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 50% | 44% | 4% | 2% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 46% | 49% | 3% | 1% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 36% | 58% | 4% | 2% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 37% | 61% | 1% | 2% | 111 |
Views about abortion among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 55% | 41% | 4% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 70% | 26% | 4% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 80% | 18% | 2% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 93% | 4% | 3% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 60% | 31% | 5% | 4% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 78% | 16% | 3% | 2% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 79% | 15% | 2% | 4% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 82% | 11% | 4% | 3% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants who …same-sex marriage
Belief in God | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 51% | 41% | 8% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 68% | 24% | 8% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 79% | 17% | 5% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 76% | 15% | 9% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by views about same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 41% | 54% | 3% | 2% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 34% | 62% | 1% | 2% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 30% | 67% | 1% | 2% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 22% | 71% | 1% | 6% | 111 |
Views about human evolution among Mainline Protestants by belief in God
% of Mainline Protestants 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 | 19% | 35% | 4% | 37% | 6% | 3,989 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 43% | 31% | 6% | 17% | 4% | 1,550 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 69% | 11% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 277 |
Do not believe in God | 77% | 6% | 2% | 12% | 3% | 111 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among Mainline Protestants by views about human evolution