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Global Poll - Reincarnation

dking777

dking777

Senior Registered
I ran across an international poll today - and one of the questions addressed is a belief in reincarnation. More than 18,000 people participated in the London-based poll in 23 countries conducted by global research company, Ipsos Social Research Institute.

I have never been able to find a poll of India to caculate the percentage of the population that believe in reincarnation - but I assumed that belief was widespread through that region due to Hinduism.

Not so - according to this poll. According to their survey - Hungrey has the highest belief percentage at 13%. India ranked 16th at only 5% of the population believing in reincarnation.

Is it just me - or is there something fishy about this survey?

DK
 
I think it depends on the group they are querying. If they only query the upper-middle class to upper class individuals, I'd believe the numbers would skewer towards skepticism.
 
I tend to agree, it depends on the group polled, hopefully the study is above board and accurate, but dking777 did they mention how the US group fared in the poll, just curious?
 
I don't trust polls or statistics. Numbers can be hideously skewed. Case in point, out here back in the 90's, the EPA was trotting around this "gross polluter" thing about cars with a hugh poster announcing that gross polluters were responsible for 50% of the smog caused by automobiles.


Catch that? "...caused by automobiles."


Further on in the report that gave them that number it was revealed that automobiles in total were responsible for 3% of the smog out there, making gross polluters responsible for only 1.5% of the smog. The other 98.5% was caused by industrial waste and naturally decaying plant and animal matter. This little detail, however, was conveniently left out of their propaganda drive. Granted, it sucks being behind some driver whose car is belching out more smoke than Chicago in 1871, but I wish they'd direct their efforts towards the actual cause of the problem, not just the easiest target. (Private citizens don't have powerful lobbyists.)


I echo that the results of their poll is dependent on who they ask, and pollsters are very careful to ask the right people depending on the result they want to get.
 
It's true that polls can be horrifically manipulated as was the well-documented EPA statistics mentioned by Shiftkitty. The media is largely responsible for misinterpreting statistics issued by government agencies as well, depending upon their intent.


Polls regarding reincarnation and belief in various religions have likewise been misapplied in more recent times, and the results have seen ridiculous percentage variations. India is one case in point. Where, traditionally, they have believed in transmigration of the soul, such beliefs have gone underground to a large degree, especially in urban areas. So, if one were to conduct a poll among certain urban areas that are dominated by Islam, one would likely encounter fewer percentage points than one would find in the American heartland. In certain areas of Sri Lanka, on the other hand, where reincarnation has enjoyed a resurgence, one would find people quite open about the subject. However, they would still be as likely to beat their child for mentioning a previous set of parents.
 
I tried wading through the poll, but must of missed the listing for the US, but I don't really trust polls anyway. :o


Not only is it dependent on the group being polled, but the way the questions are worded to the group makes all the difference!


If anything, IMHO I would think it would be higher than 7%, I think more people believe in Reincarnation than that, even though they might identify as Christians.


However they are reluctant to admit that they believe in Reincarnation in the first place either because of pressure and/or ridicule from Society or from the Church.


So when Individuals become real Individuals, instead of Sheep in a herd, then they might rise over the dogma so common in organized religion and start thinking for themselves for a change.


In closing, I'm reminded of the poem by William Ernest Henley, entitled "Invictus" which says in the last line: "I am the Master of my fate: I am the Captain of my soul"
 
hydrolad said:
I tend to agree, it depends on the group polled, hopefully the study is above board and accurate, but dking777 did they mention how the US group fared in the poll, just curious?
Click to expand...
The Poll Results


Of those who believe "you are ultimately reincarnated", Hungary (13%) is at the top followed by citizens from Brazil (12%), Mexico (11%), Japan (10%), Argentina (9%) and Australia (9%).


Canada (8%) Great Britain (5%) USA (4%).


I have read the polls by Gallop and Harris for the US and the trend is always around 20% to 28%. I have read several independent polls for Great Britain and the percentage is always within the 20% range. (One of the latest is the "Hereafter Report" conducted after the movie "Hereafter" was released.)


DK
 
I've never trusted polls, especially on the subject of religion. According to nearly every poll, our area is 80-90% Christian. However, in reality almost everyone I know is either Atheist/Agnostic or very Liberal Christian.


I generally don't talk about re-incarnation but most I talk with take a skeptical-but-highly-possible stance. Again, depend on how you word a question and who you ask, you can get wildly different results.
 
Pew Poll on Reincarnation


Pew Survey Poll Reincarnation


Believe


Total 24%


Male 21%


Female 28%


White 21%


Black 34%


Hispanic 29%


18-29 26%


30-49 25%


50-64 26%


65+ 18%


College Grad 17%


Some College 23%


HS or less 29%


Repulican 17%


Indendent 26%


Democrat 30%


Conservative 18%


Moderate 27%


Liberal 33%


Protestant 20%


White Evang 11%


Attend Weekly 05%


Attend less 20%


White Mainline 24%


Attend Weekly 12%


Attend less 28%


Catholic 28%


White Non-Hisp 25%


Attend Weekly 21%


Attend less 27%


Unaffliated 25%
 
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