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muriel_volestrangler

(102,483 posts)
Wed Oct 3, 2018, 08:10 AM Oct 2018

'New Age' beliefs common among both religious and nonreligious Americans

Most American adults self-identify as Christians. But many Christians also hold what are sometimes characterized as “New Age” beliefs – including belief in reincarnation, astrology, psychics and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects like mountains or trees. Many Americans who are religiously unaffiliated also have these beliefs.

Overall, roughly six-in-ten American adults accept at least one of these New Age beliefs. Specifically, four-in-ten believe in psychics and that spiritual energy can be found in physical objects, while somewhat smaller shares express belief in reincarnation (33%) and astrology (29%).


...
Also, adults under age 65, those who have not graduated from college, racial and ethnic minorities, and Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party are more likely than others to hold to at least one New Age belief.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/01/new-age-beliefs-common-among-both-religious-and-nonreligious-americans/

The "nothing in particular" group leads in all categories. Which makes me think their full title is "believe in nothing in particular, everything in general". And also shows the common "unaffliated" category used in polls really ought to be split in two - atheists/agnostics as one, and the "nothing in particular" as the other.

The other interesting thing is the white evangelicals are the 2nd most 'skeptical' group - more so than agnostics. I guess in their case they're following orders not to believe in competitors.
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'New Age' beliefs common among both religious and nonreligious Americans (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Oct 2018 OP
everyone has a logical weak spot or two qazplm135 Oct 2018 #1
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