Many Religious ‘Nones’ Around the World Hold Spiritual Beliefs
Despite their nonreligious identity, many unaffiliated adults hold spiritual or religious beliefs. About a fifth or more in 22 countries believe in an afterlife, for example.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Diwali, Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated by more than just Hindus
This week marks Diwali, the annual Hindu festival of lights. In the U.S., seven-in-ten Indian Americans say they celebrate the holiday.
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Greatest Dangers in the World
Our 2014 Global Attitudes survey in 44 countries asked which among five dangers was considered to be the “greatest threat to the world.” Many in the Middle East said religious and ethnic hatred was the greatest threat, while Europeans tended to choose inequality. Africans are more concerned with AIDS and other infectious diseases, while scattered countries, many with good reason, chose the spread of nuclear weapons or pollution and environmental problems as the top danger.
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Middle Easterners See Religious and Ethnic Hatred as Top Global Threat
Publics across the globe see the threat of religious and ethnic violence as a growing threat to the world’s future, with concern especially strong in the Middle East.
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Young U.S. Catholics overwhelmingly accepting of homosexuality
The Roman Catholic Church signaled a more accepting stance toward gay people in a report bishops released during the Vatican’s synod on the family this week, a position already embraced by a majority of American Catholics, particularly younger adults.
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Most Pakistanis agree with Malala on educating girls
Most Pakistanis agree with importance of educating girls as advocated by Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
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Supreme Court to decide whether inmates have religious right to grow beards
The court will determine whether prison officials may prohibit or limit a Muslim inmate from growing a beard, which many Muslims believe is required by their faith.
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Vatican synod on family highlights discord between church teachings and U.S. Catholics’ views
A Vatican synod on the family comes at a time when most American Catholics say they disagree with their church’s teachings on issues such as birth control and divorce.
Signature Reports
How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020
Christians remain the largest religious group, and Muslims grew the fastest from 2010 to 2020. Read how the global share of Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and the religiously unaffiliated changed.
30% of Americans Consult Astrology, Tarot Cards or Fortune Tellers
Most who use astrology (or a horoscope), tarot cards or a fortune teller say they do so just for fun rather than for insights about life.
Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off
After years of decline, the U.S. Christian share now shows signs of leveling off. The new Religious Landscape Study explores trends in identity, beliefs and practices.
Key Findings From the Global Religious Futures Project
The Global Religious Futures (GRF) project is jointly funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts and The John Templeton Foundation. Here are some big-picture findings from the GRF, together with context from other Pew Research Center studies.
