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Heaven, Existence of

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Subcategories [ Details ]

Afterlife Options (1)
Conditions or Characteristics of Heaven (5)
Existence of Heaven (23)
Heaven and Hell (3)
Nirvana (2)

Date Range:

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Geographic Scope

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U.S. Samples12
Regional Samples5
Single Units (State, County, etc.)1
Others16

Survey Frame

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U.S. Adults18
Congregations1
Other15

Sample Type

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Random Samples32
Non-Random Samples1
Unknown Sample Types1

Survey Mode

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Mailed Survey2
Phone Survey12
In-Person Survey14
Mixed-Mode Survey2
Other Mode4

Survey Questions

AFTRDETH from Survey of Northern California Church Bodies, 1963

What do you feel will probably happen to you after death? -- (I feel that I will do one of the following): (AFTRDETH)

	TOTAL	%
1) Go to purgatory	452	16.3
2) Go to hell	35	1.3
3) Simply stop existing	449	16.1
4) Go to heaven	1,734	62.4
5) Dont know	94	3.4
6) Reincarnation	10	0.4
7) Other	7	0.3
TOTAL	2,781	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Regional Sample
Frame:	Congregations
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Mailed

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SOUL2 from Religion and Politics Survey, 1996

ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO THINK THEIR SOUL WILL LIVE ON AFTER DEATH: Do you think there is a heaven, where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded? (SOUL2)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes (Believe in heaven)	2,958	87.8
2) No (Dont believe in heaven)	286	8.5
3) Dont know/Refused (Dont know if believe in heaven)	126	3.7
TOTAL	3,370	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

Q51A from Sub-Saharan Africa Religion Survey, 2010

Q51A [WHICH, IF ANY, OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU BELIEVE IN?] In Heaven, where people how have led good lives are eternally rewarded? (Q51A)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	22,934	91.6
2) No	1,457	5.8
8) Dont know	584	2.3
9) Refused	56	0.2
TOTAL	25,031	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: sub-Saharan Africa (Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania)
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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Q35 from U.S. Religious Landscape Survey - Continental Dataset

Do you think there is a heaven, where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded? (Q35)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	25,775	72.5
2) No	6,275	17.6
3) Other (Vol.)	1,264	3.6
9) Dont know/Refused (Vol.)	2,242	6.3
TOTAL	35,556	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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RA_11 from Portraits of American Life Study, 1st Wave, 2006

I believe in Heaven where people live with God forever. (RA_11)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	2	0.1
-4) Dont know	9	0.3
1) Strongly agree	1,671	64.1
2) Somewhat agree	389	14.9
3) Neither agree nor disagree	318	12.2
4) Somewhat disagree	70	2.7
5) Strongly disagree	146	5.6
TOTAL	2,605	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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Q35 from U.S. Religious Landscape Survey - Alaska and Hawaii Dataset

Do you think there is a heaven, where people who have led good lives are eternally rewarded? (Q35)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	246	61.3
2) No	107	26.7
3) Other (Vol.)	18	4.5
9) Dont know/Refused (Vol.)	30	7.5
TOTAL	401	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Regional Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in South Korea

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	282	47
2) No	277	46.2
8) Dont know	40	6.7
9) Refused	1	0.2
TOTAL	600	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Korea
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Nigeria

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	646	99.4
2) No	3	0.5
8) Dont know	1	0.2
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	650	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Nigeria
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Chosen Regions of India

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	461	63.5
2) No	252	34.7
8) Dont know	13	1.8
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	726	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: India
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

HEAVEN from General Social Survey 2008 Cross-Section and Panel Combined

Do you believe in heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
0) Inapplicable	0	0
1) Yes, definitely	853	62.5
2) Yes, probably	276	20.2
3) No, probably not	117	8.6
4) No definitely not	80	5.9
8) Dont know	33	2.4
9) No answer	6	0.4
TOTAL	1,365	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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Q26C from Baylor Religion Survey, 2005

Q26 In your opinion, does each of the following ... exist c. Heaven (Q26C)

	TOTAL	%
1) Absolutely	1,077	64.3
2) Probably	300	17.9
3) Probably not	180	10.7
4) Absolutely not	118	7
TOTAL	1,675	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Mixed-mode

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	9,671	87.7
2) No	1,179	10.7
8) Dont know	165	1.5
9) Refused	13	0.1
TOTAL	11,028	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: United States; Brazil, Chile and Guatemala in Latin America; Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa in Africa; and India, the Philippines and South Korea in Asia.
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Unknown
Mode:	Other

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HEAVEN from Baylor Religion Survey, Wave II (2007)

Q23b. In your opinion, does each of the following exist? Heaven (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Absolutely not	133	8.3
2) Probably not	159	9.9
3) Probably	315	19.6
4) Absolutely	1,002	62.3
TOTAL	1,609	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Mixed-mode

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HEAVEN from National Study of Youth and Religion, Wave 2 (2005)

(heaven_w2) I:9. Do you believe in heaven as a place where some people go after death, or not? [INTERVIEWER: IF R SAYS MAYBE, PROBE ONCE. IF HE/SHE STILL SAYS MAYBE, CODE YES.] (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
0) No	0	0
1) Yes	2,179	97.6
666) Invalid skip	17	0.8
777) Dont know	36	1.6
888) Refused	1	0
TOTAL	2,233	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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HEAVEN from National Study of Youth and Religion, Wave 3 (2007-2008)

(heaven_w3) I:9. Do you believe in heaven as a place where some people go after death, or not? [INTERVIEWER: IF R SAYS MAYBE, PROBE ONCE. IF HE/SHE STILL SAYS MAYBE, CODE YES.] (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
0) No	0	0
1) Yes	2,078	98.5
777) Dont know	22	1
888) Refused	4	0.2
999) Legitimate skip	5	0.2
TOTAL	2,109	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Brazil

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	559	79.9
2) No	129	18.4
8) Dont know	12	1.7
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	700	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Brazil, urban areas
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Chile

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	482	80.3
2) No	95	15.8
8) Dont know	17	2.8
9) Refused	6	1
TOTAL	600	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Chile
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from General Social Survey, 1991

Do you believe in. . . Heaven (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes, definitely	776	57.1
2) Yes, probably	275	20.2
3) No, probably not	115	8.5
4) No, definitely not	63	4.6
8) Cant choose	68	5
9) No answer	62	4.6
TOTAL	1,359	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in the Philippines

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	936	93.6
2) No	57	5.7
8) Dont know	7	0.7
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	1,000	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: The Philippines
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in South Africa

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	693	86.6
2) No	75	9.4
8) Dont know	32	4
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	800	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: South Africa
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in the United States

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	628	85
2) No	90	12.2
8) Dont know	19	2.6
9) Refused	2	0.3
TOTAL	739	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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HEAVEN from General Social Survey, 1998

Do you believe in... Heaven (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes, definitely	770	60
2) Yes, probably	223	17.4
3) No probably not	90	7
4) No definitely not	75	5.8
8) Cant choose	71	5.5
9) No answer	55	4.3
TOTAL	1,284	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Kenya

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	627	95.9
2) No	24	3.7
8) Dont know	3	0.5
9) Refused	0	0
TOTAL	654	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Kenya
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Spirit and Power: Survey of Pentecostals in Guatemala

Which, if any, of the following do you believe in? Do you believe in Heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	927	92.2
2) No	63	6.3
8) Dont know	13	1.3
9) Refused	2	0.2
TOTAL	1,005	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Guatemala
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	In-Person

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HEAVEN from Religious Fundamentalism Scale, 1988

Please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following statement - The religious idea of heaven is not much more than superstition. (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strongly disagree	32	33.3
2) Disagree	25	26
3) Undecided	25	26
4) Agree	7	7.3
5) Strongly Agree	7	7.3
TOTAL	96	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Undergraduates at University of North Carolina
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Other

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

AFTERLIF from Spirituality and the Elderly: Survey of Staff and Residents From Long-Term Care Facilities, 1998

Do you believe in an afterlife? (AFTERLIF)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes, definitely	395	68.2
2) Sometimes	117	20.2
3) No	67	11.6
TOTAL	579	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah.
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Non-Random
Mode:	Mailed

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HEAVEN from Middletown Area Study, 1998

ASKED ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO NEVER ATTEND CHURCH: Do you believe in heaven? (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	105	76.6
2) No	21	15.3
3) Are not sure	11	8
TOTAL	137	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Single Unit (State, County, etc.)
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

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HEAVEN from Religious Fundamentalism Scale, 1986

Please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following statement - The religious idea of heaven is not much more than superstition. (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strongly disagree	38	39.6
2) Disagree	31	32.3
3) Undecided	16	16.7
4) Agree	6	6.3
5) Strongly Agree	5	5.2
TOTAL	96	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Undergraduates at University of North Carolina
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Other

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HEAVEN from Religious Fundamentalism Scale, 1987

Please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: The religious idea of heaven is not much more than superstition. (HEAVEN)

	TOTAL	%
1) Strongly disagree	25	27.8
2) Disagree	30	33.3
3) Undecided	22	24.4
4) Agree	6	6.7
5) Strongly Agree	7	7.8
TOTAL	90	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Other: Undergraduates at University of North Carolina
Frame:	Other
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Other

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BLFHELL from Southern Focus Poll, South Survey, Spring 1998

Do you believe that after people die, some souls go to Heaven and others go to Hell? (BLFHELL)

	TOTAL	%
1) BELIEVE	609	80.9
2) DONT BELIEVE	144	19.1
TOTAL	753	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Regional Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

BLFHELL from Southern Focus Poll, Non-South Survey, Spring 1998

Do you believe that after people die, some souls go to Heaven and others go to Hell? (BLFHELL)

	TOTAL	%
1) BELIEVE	241	66.9
2) DONT BELIEVE	119	33.1
TOTAL	360	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Regional Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

BLFHELL from Southern Focus Poll, Combined Sample, Spring 1998

Do you believe that after people die, some souls go to Heaven and others go to Hell? (BLFHELL)

	TOTAL	%
1) Believe	795	72.1
2) Dont Believe	308	27.9
TOTAL	1,103	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

Q34A from U.S. Religious Landscape Survey - Continental Dataset

IF BUDDHIST (Q.16=7), ASK: Do you believe in nirvana, the ultimate state transcending pain and desire in which individual consciousness ends? (Q34A)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	258	62.8
2) No	81	19.7
3) Other (Vol.)	7	1.7
9) Dont know/Refused (Vol.)	65	15.8
TOTAL	411	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	U.S. Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

Q34A from U.S. Religious Landscape Survey - Alaska and Hawaii Dataset

IF BUDDHIST (Q.16=7), ASK: Do you believe in nirvana, the ultimate state transcending pain and desire in which individual consciousness ends? (Q34A)

	TOTAL	%
1) Yes	8	66.7
2) No	2	16.7
9) Dont know/Refused (Vol.)	2	16.7
TOTAL	12	100.0

Survey Details
Scope:	Regional Sample
Frame:	U.S. Adults
Sample:	Random Sample
Mode:	Phone

[ Analyze Results | Add to Question Bank | View Question Bank ]

SubCategories [ Back to Top ]

Afterlife Options:	This question type does not ask only about Heaven. Respondents are given the option of multiple afterlife destinations.
Conditions or Characteristics of Heaven:	This question type includes certain conditions and/or characteristics of Heaven when asking about Heaven's existence.
Existence of Heaven:	This question type asks if the respondent believes in Heaven, but does not ask about the characteristics or qualities of Heaven.
Heaven and Hell:	This question type asks about Heaven and Hell in the same item.
Nirvana:	This question asks about Nirvana rather than Heaven.

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