Study finds many religious Americans also hold magical beliefs
A study of 1,812 adults found that many Americans who trust reason over church teachings still keep religious faith or attend services. Researchers say falling trust in religious institutions does not necessarily mean abandoning supernatural beliefs.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
Researchers studied responses from 1,812 adults and found that some Americans who put more trust in science and reason than in their churches' teachings still believe in God or attend services. Those who value reason over religion may still hold supernatural beliefs. The study highlights a complex relationship between faith and reasoning.
Why it matters
The findings show that declining trust in religious institutions does not necessarily mean people drop supernatural beliefs.
Timeline
- Oct 15, 9:03 AM ET: Early coverage reported that religious Americans who trust reason and science more than church teachings are more likely to believe in magic.
- Oct 15, 3:12 PM ET: Later coverage reported that the study analyzed responses from 1,812 adults and highlighted the complex link between faith and reasoning.
Coverage
- Why are Americans losing trust in religion and the church but still believe in ghosts, curses and magic (Economic Times)
- Reason, faith and ghosts: The surprising mix of beliefs researchers found in religious Americans (washingtontimes.com)
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