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WASHINGTON (OSV News) — A new survey indicates belief in spiritual entities continues to decline in the U.S. — and evangelization leaders say the data is a call for Catholics to examine their own witness to their faith.
Poll results released by Gallup July 21 show that 74% of U.S. residents believe in God, 69% in angels, 59% in hell and 58% in the devil.
The responses point to a new low in spiritual beliefs among U.S. residents, consistent with trends seen by Gallup — which has conducted the survey for the past two decades — and Pew Research Center.
The data also aligns with other indicators of waning religious interest in the U.S. Religious book sales were down 6% in 2022, while Christian and gospel music combined took just 1.7% of the total U.S. music market share in 2022, according to a year-end report from data company Luminate.
“If our witness to the God in Christ is not accompanied by an evident way of life that demonstrates that we are actually Christ-like, we should not be surprised if people do not take our beliefs and practices seriously,” said Father Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, in an email to OSV News.
Compared with results from Gallup’s first poll of this kind in 2001, the latest Gallup data — collected from 1,011 adults representing current U.S. demographics — shows belief in God and heaven has tumbled 16 points. Belief in hell is down 12 points, with belief in the devil and angels falling 10 points each.
Gallup found that declining belief in God was matched by nearly equal increases in uncertainty and nonbelief. Nonbelief has outstripped uncertainty with regard to heaven, hell, angels and the devil.
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
Poll results released by Gallup July 21 show that 74% of U.S. residents believe in God, 69% in angels, 59% in hell and 58% in the devil.
The responses point to a new low in spiritual beliefs among U.S. residents, consistent with trends seen by Gallup — which has conducted the survey for the past two decades — and Pew Research Center.
The data also aligns with other indicators of waning religious interest in the U.S. Religious book sales were down 6% in 2022, while Christian and gospel music combined took just 1.7% of the total U.S. music market share in 2022, according to a year-end report from data company Luminate.
“If our witness to the God in Christ is not accompanied by an evident way of life that demonstrates that we are actually Christ-like, we should not be surprised if people do not take our beliefs and practices seriously,” said Father Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, in an email to OSV News.
Compared with results from Gallup’s first poll of this kind in 2001, the latest Gallup data — collected from 1,011 adults representing current U.S. demographics — shows belief in God and heaven has tumbled 16 points. Belief in hell is down 12 points, with belief in the devil and angels falling 10 points each.
Gallup found that declining belief in God was matched by nearly equal increases in uncertainty and nonbelief. Nonbelief has outstripped uncertainty with regard to heaven, hell, angels and the devil.
Continued below.
New poll on declining faith should prompt greater witness, experts say
A new survey indicates belief in spiritual entities continues to decline in the U.S. -- and evangelization leaders say the data is a call for Catholics to examine their own witness to their faith. Poll results released by Gallup July 21 show that 74% of U.S. residents believe in God, 69% in...
www.oursundayvisitor.com
