Do you believe? Seniors do

Do you believe there is something bigger out there than meets the eye? Older people across the globe believe so; a new study has revealed as people age, their belief in God seems to increase.

The University of Chicago researchers looked at data from 30 countries where surveys, taken at two or more time points between 1991 and 2008, asked residents about their belief in God.

Participants answered three main “belief” questions, including their level of belief (from strong to atheistic), their changing beliefs over their lifetime and their attitude toward the notion that God was concerned with their personal lives.

Age seemed to be a significant factor in belief, as it was the highest among older adults, with 43% of those aged 68 years and older stating they were certain of God’s existence, compared with 23% of those 27 years and younger, averaged across the countries surveyed.

“Looking at differences among age groups, the largest increases in belief in God most often occur among those 58 years of age and older,” lead researcher, Professor Ian Smith, said in a statement.

“This suggests belief in God is especially likely to increase among the oldest groups, perhaps in response to the increasing anticipation of mortality.”

Atheism seemed to have the strongest hold in northwest European countries such as Scandinavia and those of the former Eastern Bloc, excluding Poland.

Atheism ranged from 52% in the former East Germany. However, 8% of those in East Germany stated they were certain God existed, with the lowest ‘strong belief’ in God held in Japan with just 4%.

Overall, countries dominated by Catholic societies, such as the Philippines, showed the strongest belief in God.

The United States stood out for its high belief in God among developed countries. Over the study period, just five of the countries showed a consistent growth in their belief in God; these included, West Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia and Slovenia. Meanwhile, 16 countries showed a consistent decline in belief: Australia, Austria, East Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway and Poland.

“Belief in God has decreased in most countries, but the decline is quite modest, especially when calculated on a per annum basis. Though modest, this decrease could add up to a real effect over time.

“If the modest, general trend away from belief in God continues uninterrupted, it will accumulate to larger proportions and the atheism that is now prominent mainly in northwest Europe and some ex-Socialist states may spread more widely,” said Professor Smith.

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