Survey Says: Women Are Spiritually Stronger

Women are more religious than men on a variety of measures, says new data from the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Results from the survey showed that 86 percent of women are affiliated with a religion, compared to 79 percent of men. When the answer to the question, "Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?" was affirmative, survey participants were then asked: "Are you absolutely certain, fairly certain, not too certain, or not at all certain?" Women were absolutely certain of God or a universal spirit (at 77%) and men were 65 percent certain of the same.

Those who believe in God were subsequently asked: "Which comes closest to your view of God? — God is a person with whom people can have a relationship or God is an impersonal Force?" Response showed that 58 percent of the women have belief in a personal God compared to 45 percent of the men.

Further data revealed that 66 percent of women compared to 49 percent of men pray at least daily; 63 percent of women compared to 49 percent of men say religion is very important in their lives; and 44 percent of the women attend worship services at least weekly compared to 34 percent of the men.