About three-fourths of Americans believe in heaven and hell, but almost one-fourth say they have “no idea” what will happen after they die, a study by the Barna Research Group shows.
Researchers with the Ventura, Calif.-based firm found that 76 percent of respondents believe that heaven exists and 71 percent believe there is a hell.
Forty-six percent of respondents said they would describe heaven as “a state of eternal existence in God’s presence” while 30 percent said it is “an actual place of rest and reward where souls go after death.” Fourteen percent said heaven is “symbolic,” 5 percent said they did not believe in life after death and 5 percent were uncertain.
Thirty-nine percent of respondents said hell is “a state of eternal separation from God’s presence,” while 32 percent said it is “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death.” Sixteen percent said they were uncertain or did not believe in an afterlife.
Just half of 1 percent of U.S. adults said they expect to go to hell when they die, while 64 percent predicted they will end up in heaven. But researchers found that many were not so sure of their post-death destination.
The research was based on telephone surveys among random samples of 1,000 or more adults.
(RNS)
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