Does Faith Matter?

The report details a survey of 86 global leaders regarding their religious beliefs and the perceived utility of faith in public life. Findings indicate that while belief in a higher power remains widespread (61%), there is a trend toward individualised spirituality over strict religious praxis. Respondents generally view faith as a force for good, particularly in human rights and peace-making, though they are polarized on its ability to prevent conflict.

• A majority of surveyed leaders express belief in a higher power, though identification varies between religious and spiritual labels. Specifically, 61% of respondents believe god either 'definitely exists' (43%) or 'probably exists' (18%), while 32% believe there is probably no god or are certain there is no god.
• There is a disconnect between general belief in a higher power and adherence to structured religious practices. While 62% identify as religious, spiritual, or both, only 44% report a 'very strong' or 'somewhat strong' commitment to a particular faith. This is further evidenced by the fact that 81% of respondents had not fasted or made a personal sacrifice for their faith in the last year, and 44% had never attended a religious service outside of special occasions.
• Engaging with written materials is the most common form of spiritual or religious activity. Only 21% of respondents reported they never engaged with books, articles, or the web for these purposes, with 52% doing so at least a few times a week.
• Respondents generally perceive faith as a constructive force in global affairs, with over half believing it can have a positive influence. Faith is viewed as playing a 'crucial role' in human rights, peace-making, and values, and a 'high' role in business ethics, anti-corruption, and civil society.
• Faith is viewed as 'somewhat important' regarding sustainability, population growth, climate change, and an informed society.
• There is a sharp polarization regarding the role of faith in conflict prevention, with slightly more than half believing it cannot be a positive force in this area. This contrasts with the view of faith as a tool for conflict resolution and peace-making, suggesting faith can be both a 'positive and negative' force for political stability.

APA

World Economic Forum (2014). Does Faith Matter? http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GAC/2014/WEF_GAC_RoleFaith_DoesFaithMatter_Report_2014.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Does Faith Matter? 2014. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GAC/2014/WEF_GAC_RoleFaith_DoesFaithMatter_Report_2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Does Faith Matter? |date=July 2014 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GAC/2014/WEF_GAC_RoleFaith_DoesFaithMatter_Report_2014.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2014does, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Does Faith Matter?}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GAC/2014/WEF_GAC_RoleFaith_DoesFaithMatter_Report_2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }