Spirituality Among Americans Report from Pew Research Center

In recent decades, Americans have become less likely to identify with an organized religion. Yet a new Pew Research Center survey shows that belief in spirits or a spiritual realm beyond this world is widespread, even among those who don’t consider themselves religious. For example, 83% of all U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body, and 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it. Three-in-ten say they have personally encountered a spirit or unseen spiritual force. Overall, 70% of U.S. adults can be considered “spiritual” in some way, because they think of themselves as spiritual people or say spirituality is very important in their lives.