Pollster Predicts a More Spiritual Shift

John Zogby, famous for his political polls, predicts that by 2020, we’re going to be more Zen-like, less materialistic, and more tolerant. If that sounds overly idealistic, consider this: In one of his surveys, over one third of respondents said they believed they could achieve the American dream through spiritual fulfillment rather than material success. And since 2001, the percentage of people who say they intend to spend less on Christmas gifts than the previous year has been growing. To Zogby, that suggests that for more people, “The test is how fulfilled we are spiritually. Their quest isn’t for bigger houses and more cars; it’s an inner search, a quest for spiritual meaning.” He calls such people “spiritual secularists.” Zogby spoke with U.S. News about his new book, The Way We’ll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream. Read Interview

By Kimberly Palmer