Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Spirituality and Religion Among Americans Age 45 and Older
This study offers a fresh look at religion and spirituality among midlife and older Americans by examining their churchgoing behavior, what they consider their most satisfying spiritual and religious experiences, and their dissatisfaction, if any, with religion or their church.
While affirming age old beliefs and research showing that women are more religious than men, and older people are more religious than younger people, the telephone survey of 1,625 age 45+ Americans, conducted in 2004 for AARP The Magazine, also uncovered some surprises. Among the findings:
* More than half of those surveyed attend church regularly, or at least once every two weeks.
* Women are more likely than men to be regular churchgoers, and to consider themselves very spiritual or very religious.
* Republicans are more likely than Democrats and Independents to be regular churchgoers (65, 54, and 50 percent respectively).
* Most respondents tend to perceive themselves as religious, and most who consider themselves very religious also consider themselves very spiritual, and vice versa. *
However, those who say they are very spiritual are not as likely to say that they are very religious.
The survey was conducted for AARP in August 2004 by International Communications Research (ICR) of Media Pennsylvania through its EXCEL National Telephone
Omnibus Study. The summary report was written by Xenia P. Montenegro, Ph.D. of AARP Knowledge Management who may be contacted at 202-434-3538 for additional information. (32 pages)
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