The Irish Times/TNS MRBI Poll - 50+: Some 90 per cent of the over-50s are practising Catholics, yet 33 per cent say they do not believe or do not know if there is life after death, according to an Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll.
In total 62 per cent agree there is life after death, 12 per cent disagree, 21 per cent say they don't know, while 5 per cent have no opinion.
The proportion of older people who agree there is life after death increases with age. Some 55 per cent of the 50-64 age group agree with the statement, rising to 70 per cent among those aged 65 or more.
Among all the over-50s, women are more likely to believe in the after-life (67 per cent) compared to men (56 per cent).
The poll, commissioned by The Irish Times to provide an insight into the attitude of its fastest growing demographic sector - the over 50s - was taken last month among a national quota sample of 1,000 people at 100 sampling points in the State.
On the issue of gay marriage, 30 per cent of the over-50s agree that it should be allowed, while 44 per cent disagree.
The proportion of people more likely to agree with gay marriage reduces dramatically among the older age groups. While almost half (48 per cent) of those in the 50-54 age group agree with gay marriage, this falls to 20 per cent among the over-70s.
A significant majority of older people (60 per cent) disagree with the statement that divorce is morally wrong, while 25 per cent agree. Again, the number of people who agree with the statement increases among older age groups, rising from 15 per cent among the 50-54 age group to 38 per cent among those aged 70-plus.
On the traditionally divisive issue of abortion, a large proportion of the over-50s (64 per cent) agree that abortion is acceptable where the life of the mother is at risk, while 16 per cent disagree with the statement.
Once again, the numbers who agree are highest among the 50-54 age group (73 per cent) and fall off among older age groups. The lowest figure recorded is among the over-70s (53 per cent).
Another large majority (60 per cent) disagree with the statement that artificial contraception is morally wrong, compared to 20 per cent who agree with the statement.
Those most likely to disagree are aged between 50 and 64 (71 per cent), while rates are lower among those aged 65 or older (46 per cent).
The poll results show that 90 per cent of the over-50s are practising Catholics, 6 per cent have no religion, 2 per cent are Protestant, while the remaining 2 per cent had another religion or refused to say.
The importance of close family and friends among the over-50s is apparent when people are asked who they turn to when in need of emotional comfort or reassurance.
Most people say they turn to their close family/friends (63 per cent) for support, followed by their partner or spouse (38 per cent), and the Catholic Church (23 per cent).
Much smaller numbers turn to counselling or psychotherapy (4 per cent) or meditation/yoga/personal reflection (5 per cent).
Numbers for these options are slightly higher among the younger age groups.
