Parent of children under 18 by religious group

% of adults who are…

Religious traditionParentsNon-parentsSample size
Buddhist20%80%263
Catholic30%70%7,172
Evangelical Protestant31%69%8,560
Hindu39%61%199
Historically Black Protestant30%70%1,908
Jehovah's Witness29%71%244
Jewish26%74%845
Mainline Protestant26%74%6,062
Mormon41%59%661
Muslim38%62%237
Orthodox Christian30%70%186
Unaffiliated (religious "nones")26%74%7,532
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Parents, Non-parents

BeliefsandPractices

Belief in God by parental status

% of adults who say they…

Parent of children under 18Believe in God; absolutely certainBelieve in God; fairly certainBelieve in God; not too/not at all certainBelieve in God; don't knowDo not believe in GodOther/don't know if they believe in GodSample size
Parents66%20%5%1%7%2%8,366
Non-parents62%19%6%1%10%2%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

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

Importance of religion in one's life by parental status

% of adults who say religion is…

Parent of children under 18Very importantSomewhat importantNot too importantNot at all importantDon't knowSample size
Parents57%25%9%8%< 1%8,366
Non-parents52%24%11%12%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, Not at all important

Attendance at religious services by parental status

% of adults who attend religious services…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a month/a few times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents38%36%26%< 1%8,366
Non-parents35%32%32%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month/a few times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of prayer by parental status

% of adults who pray…

Parent of children under 18At least dailyWeeklyMonthlySeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents59%16%6%19%< 1%8,366
Non-parents54%15%6%24%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least daily, Weekly, Monthly, Seldom/never

Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups by parental status

% of adults who attend prayer group…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents27%11%9%52%< 1%8,366
Non-parents23%8%8%60%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of meditation by parental status

% of adults who meditate…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents39%8%4%48%1%8,366
Non-parents41%9%4%44%2%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing by parental status

% of adults who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents59%16%10%14%1%8,366
Non-parents58%14%9%17%2%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe by parental status

% of adults who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents43%17%14%25%1%8,366
Non-parents47%15%12%24%2%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Sources of guidance on right and wrong by parental status

% of adults who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong

Parent of children under 18ReligionPhilosophy/reasonCommon senseScienceDon't knowSample size
Parents35%9%44%9%2%8,366
Non-parents32%11%45%9%3%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Religion, Philosophy/reason, Common sense, Science

Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong by parental status

% of adults who say…

Parent of children under 18There are clear standards for what is right and wrongRight or wrong depends on the situationNeither/both equallyDon't knowSample size
Parents35%63%1%1%8,366
Non-parents32%65%2%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: There are clear standards for what is right and wrong, Right or wrong depends on the situation

Frequency of reading scripture by parental status

% of adults who read scripture…

Parent of children under 18At least once a weekOnce or twice a monthSeveral times a yearSeldom/neverDon't knowSample size
Parents38%11%9%42%< 1%8,366
Non-parents34%10%8%47%1%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: At least once a week, Once or twice a month, Several times a year, Seldom/never

Interpreting scripture by parental status

% of adults who say the holy scripture is…

Parent of children under 18Word of God; should be taken literallyWord of God; not everything taken literallyWord of God; other/don't knowNot the word of GodOther/don't knowSample size
Parents32%29%3%30%7%8,366
Non-parents30%26%3%35%7%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God

Belief in Heaven by parental status

% of adults who …in heaven

Parent of children under 18BelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
Parents75%18%7%8,366
Non-parents70%22%7%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Believe, Don't believe

Belief in Hell by parental status

% of adults who …in hell

Parent of children under 18BelieveDon't believeOther/don't knowSample size
Parents63%30%7%8,366
Non-parents56%36%8%26,567
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.

Learn More: Believe, Don't believe