Americans link faith to everyday life, poll finds

WASHINGTON — Large percentages of Americans link faith to their everyday lives, a new poll reveals. But overall, faithful Americans acknowledge a gap between what they believe and how they act. The findings are part of a new joint effort to examine “The Spiritual State of the Union” by the Gallup Organization and the Center for Research on Religion & Urban Civil Society.

Among the findings:

*77 percent of Americans believe the overall health of the nation depends a great deal on the spiritual health of the nation.

*72 percent said their lives have meaning and purpose because of their faith.

*60 percent said their faith is involved in every aspect of their lives.

“You really cannot understand America if you do not understand her spiritual underpinnings,” said George Gallup, who presented survey findings at a briefing March 4. “This survey makes that point, loudly and clearly.”