U.S. Public Becoming Less Religious
There has been a modest drop in overall rates of belief in God and participation in religious practices. But religiously affiliated Americans are as observant as before.
18% of Americans say they’ve seen a ghost
An even greater share – 29% – say they have felt in touch with someone who has already died.
Most U.S. Catholics hope for change in church rule on divorce, Communion
62% of U.S. Catholics think the church should allow Catholics who have been divorced and remarried without an annulment to receive Communion.
Half of all church fires in past 20 years were arsons
Of the 4,705 reported fire incidents at houses of worship between 1996 and 2015, 2,378, or 51%, have been ruled intentional.
5 facts about the interplay between religion and science
Religion and science have often been seen as being in conflict. But are religious faith and the scientific enterprise really at odds with each other?
Video: Are science and religion in conflict with each other?
A majority of the public says science and religion often conflict, but fewer say science conflicts with their own beliefs. And highly religious Americans are less likely than others to see conflict between faith and science.
Religion and Science
A majority of the public says science and religion often conflict, but people’s sense that they do seems to have less to do with their own religious beliefs than their perception of others' beliefs.
Positive Impact of Pope Francis on Views of the Church, Especially Among Democrats and Liberals
Pope Francis has generated goodwill toward the Catholic Church among many Americans across the political spectrum. But Democrats and liberals are especially likely to say they have a more positive view of the Church because of Francis.
California legalizes assisted suicide amid growing support for such laws
Two-thirds of Americans say doctors should be allowed by law to assist patients who are terminally ill and living in severe pain to commit suicide.
Catholics, especially Hispanics, echo pope’s call to embrace immigrants
Nearly nine-in-ten Hispanic Catholics (88%) say that undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements should be able to stay in the U.S.
