Heaven and Hell: Who goes and what happens?

A look into what 6,000+ U.S. adults think about the afterlife

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Do our lives extend beyond the grave?

Many of us have views on this very question, but they are rarely expressed.

Pew Research Center surveyed 6,485 American adults in September 2021 about the afterlife, specifically their views on heaven, hell, reincarnation, fate, prayer, and other metaphysical matters.

This study focuses on Christians and religiously unaffiliated individuals. 66% of the sample were Christians, split between Protestants and Catholics which are the two main denominations of Christianity.

I believe in...

(Select an option and find out how you compare to U.S. adults.)

Who believes in heaven and hell?

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So what does heaven and hell look like?

Let's find out!

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satan

Welcome to hell!

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You are in hell.

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Welcome to heaven!

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You are in heaven.

But who is in heaven?

People who do not believe in God...

(Select an option and find out how you compare to U.S. adults.)

Who believes non-believers can go to heaven?

Do Christians believe multiple religions lead to eternal life in heaven?

Let's visit the afterlife!

(that's not heaven or hell)

Among the people do not believe in heaven/hell but do believe in the afterlife, what does it look like?

What do people think about other metaphysical matters?

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Younger Americans are more likely to believe in reincarnation than older Americans.

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Most Americans don't believe some interaction is possible between the living and the dead.

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Most say that it is possible to feel the presence of deceased.

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Check my answers

Heaven and Hell:
Key Takeaways

Who goes?

Most Americans believe in heaven but there are differing views on who gets to be in heaven, specifically among Protestants and Catholics.

And what happens?

There is more agreement on what heaven is like compared to hell. Among people who do not believe in heaven and hell but do believe in the afterlife, there is not much consensus on what it's like.


This project has been featured in Big Think. View it here.

Credits: Pia Bocanegra, Lesley Huang