The 'Spiritual State of The Union?'

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.
     Ted Malloch, Founder of the Spiritual Enterprise Institute said, "One
 of the most compelling findings in the survey is evidence that the 18th
 Century concept of a Protestant Work Ethic has not only survived the 20th
 century wave of communism, socialism, secularism, and the welfare state --
 but may be positioned for a resurgence."
     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.
     Charles Harper, of The John Templeton Foundation, said, "This research
 is a vital key to understanding, and provides a valuable service to
 commentators discussing the impact of spiritual values and trends in
 American life, including the economy, work and family life, and voting
 patterns."
     "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.
 
 

SOURCE Spiritual Enterprise Institute