Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
1. God, spirits and the natural world
Across religious groups, relatively few adults believe objects can have spirits or spiritual energies
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- 1. God, spirits and the natural world
- Majorities around world believe in God
- Nearly all Muslims surveyed believe in God
- Belief in God is more prevalent among older adults
- Adults with more education tend to be less likely to believe in God
- Many believe animals can have spirits
- Many religious ‘nones’ say animals can have spirits
- Younger adults are more likely than older adults to say animals can have spirits
- Many Latin Americans say parts of nature can have spiritual energies
- Most Hindus say parts of nature can have spirits
- In some countries, women are more likely than men to say mountains, rivers or trees can have spirits
- In most places, fewer than half of adults believe objects can have spirits
- Across religious groups, relatively few adults believe objects can have spirits or spiritual energies
- Most adults in 35 countries surveyed say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world
- In the U.S. and Ghana, 9 in 10 Christians say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world
- People who pray daily are more likely to believe in something spiritual beyond the natural world
- Higher levels of education are tied to more belief in something spiritual beyond the natural world