For Almost All Americans, There Is God

CBS News Poll: 82 Percent Believe In God; Fewer Pray

(CBS)  A new CBS News poll shows that almost all Americans believe in God or some higher power and more than half pray often and consider religion an important component of their daily lives.

Eighty-two percent of poll respondents said they believe in God, with nine percent saying they had faith in some sort of higher power or spirit. Doubt about the existence of God was highest in the "young" demographic as well that of political independents, those living in the West, people who live in big cities and men.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans indicated that they pray often and 40 percent said they attend weekly services. Religious observation also seems to have an effect on political preferences. Half of those who said they attend religious services almost every week approve of President Bush's job performance. However, a significant percentage of those who are less and non-observant of a religion disapprove of the job Mr. Bush is doing.

AMERICA'S RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Pray Often
59%

Attend Services Nearly Every Week
40%

Attend Less Often
39%

Never Attend Services
20%

Say Religion Is Very Important In Their Daily Lives
59%

Say Religion Is Not At All Important
13%


For those who make religion a priority, 47 percent think it is more important to adhere to religious traditions while 46 percent think it is more important to be engaged spiritually.

For detailed information on how CBS News conducts public opinion surveys, click here.
This poll was conducted among a nationwide random sample of 899 adults, interviewed by telephone April 6-9, 2006. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. Error for subgroups may be higher.