Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991                   TAG: 9104020243
SECTION: DAYS OF REVERENCE                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PRINCETON, N.J.                                LENGTH: Short

BELIEFS EXPRESSED IN HEAVEN AND HELL

As published in Emerging Trends of the Gallup organization's Religion Research Center, 78 percent of Americans surveyed said they believe there is a place where people who have lived good lives are eternally rewarded. Sixty percent believed there is a place where those who have led bad lives and die without being sorry are eternally damned.

Previous records for Americans expressing these beliefs were in 1952 when 72 percent said they believed in heaven and 58 percent said they believed in hell.

Most of those saying they believe in heaven expect to go there, but few who said they believe in hell expect to go there. The information came from 1,108 interviews.