TruthBook Religious News Blog

Landmark Gallup Survey Shows Major Shifts

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- D.C. & Princeton, N.J.

The Gallup Organization and the Spiritual Enterprise Institute [
http://www.SpiritualEnterprise.org ], today released the results of a
national survey on the state of religious and spiritual attitudes and
practices in America.

George Gallup III said, "This is the first comprehensive survey of its
kind since 1999, and a new 13-statement "Spiritual Commitment Index" was
developed to link to trend measurements from a smaller 2002 Gallup survey."
He also said, "We see rapid shifts in American attitudes -- as well as
confirmation of the critical underpinning of religious and spiritual
beliefs as they relate to current problems, the economy, volunteerism, and
giving.

Top Line Findings:

* Agree:

"The Spiritual Health of the Nation is Important"
* 63% of all respondents (A 14 point decline since 2002)
* 79% of church-goers
* 44% of self-identified Liberals

* "Trust"
* 4 in 10 Americans believe today that, in general, people can be
trusted.
* 6 in 10 think "you can't be too careful."
* 85% of Americans "mostly agree" that being ethical will pay off
economically.

* Religious Convictions:
* Since 1999, Americans saying
-- They're "spiritual but not religious" has increased 10
percentage points
-- they're part of a "Christian religious tradition," has declined
6 percentage points
-- they have "no religious tradition" has increased 5 percentage
points
* 18% of the adult U.S. population can be described as "highly
spiritually committed."
* 49% describe themselves as "religious."
* 40% say they are "spiritual but not religious."
* 70% say that because of their faith, they find meaning and purpose
in life.

* Volunteerism (Who Volunteers a great deal or some?)
* 65% of Americans volunteer
* 81% for church-goers
* 87% for those self-identified as "born again"

* Spirituality in the Workplace
* 79% believe open expression of religion at their place of work
should be either encouraged (32%) or tolerated (47%).
* 19% employees report there are groups at their place of work that
meet regularly for prayer or Bible study.

"We see many important trends in this data -- but we also want to
provide the research and analysis to students, journalists, policy-makers,
and the clergy, to draw their own conclusions." said SEI Founder, Malloch.
The research is posted at http://www.SpiritualEnterprise.org.

The Spiritual Enterprise Institute [ http://www.spiritualenterprise.org
] was established in 2005, to stimulate new thinking with regard to
Spiritual Capital, and how it can best be employed to benefit social and
economic development through Spiritual Enterprise.

The Gallup Organization has studied human nature and behavior for more
than 70 years. Gallup's 2,000 professionals deliver services at client
organizations, through the Web, at Gallup University's campuses, and in 40
offices around the world.

The John Templeton Foundation, a funder of SEI, serves as a
philanthropic catalyst for discovery in areas engaging life's biggest
questions -- explorations into the laws of nature and the universe to
questions on the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness, and creativity.