Religious eclecticism and pluralism in America

Posted by Ivor - SMN member on 14 December 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags: religious belief, eclecticism, pluralism, mystical experience, survey

A recent survey in the USA has suggested a high percentage of Americans hold 'non-traditional' religious beliefs in which eastern and western beliefs are mixed eclectically. Meanwhile, a very high percentage endorse the idea that many religions can embody truth.  A survey by the polling organisation Pew, reported in USA today, highlights these surprising statistics:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-10-1Amixingbeliefs10_CV_N.htm

Perhaps unsurprisingly, America is an overwhelmingly theistic country, with 92% in the survey expressing a belief in God, however defined.  Encouragingly, 70% responded that many religions can lead to truth in some way, suggesting that the evangelical Christan message that Jesus is the ONLY way is not the dominant belief in the USA. This is just as well, for it can only lead to intolerance and prejudice.

As for the eclecticism, a third of Americans attend spiritual places of worship outside of their own faith. 24% of respondents believe in rebirth, including the same proportion of Christians. 25% endorse astrology, again with the same proportion of Christians. 23% think of yoga as a spiritual practice.  29% said that they have been in touch with the dead, while 26% described finding spiritual energy in trees and nature. 

This implies a less doctrinal, more flexible, approach to spiritual beliefs in the USA. It also suggests an openness to experimenting with religious beliefs that can only happen in the absence of rigid dogma.

The survey also finds that over 50% of Americans report a mystical experience. So if you were wondering why America is such a religious country, maybe there's your answer.