Poll says `spirituality' not replacing `religion'

Christian Century, May 23, 2001

American interest in spirituality is supplementing, not replacing, traditional religion, a new poll shows. Fifty-nine percent of Americans say they are both religious and spiritual, reports Spirituality & Health magazine, which commissioned the poll.

One in five Americans view themselves as only spiritual, and in that group .47 percent view religion in a negative way. Eight percent of those surveyed said they are solely religious, while 13 percent regard spirituality and religion as completely different.

"Ideas about religion are changing," said Bob Scott, editor in chief of the magazine. "A generation ago most Americans viewed religion as a community and a set of beliefs. Now, the emphasis is more personal--a spiritual dimension that's always been present but largely ignored."

God was viewed by 84 percent in the poll as being "everywhere and in everything" rather than "someone somewhere." Activities considered to be spiritual by those surveyed: prayer (91 percent), attending worship services (81 percent), parenting (80 percent), walking in the forest (67 percent) and making love (52 percent).

Spirituality & Health is underwritten by Trinity Church Wall Street, a 300-year-old Episcopal church in New York. The poll by the New York-based Blum & Weprin Associates surveyed 502 adults across the country and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. --RNS