According to recent AP-NORC polls, approximately 7 in 10 U.S. adults, or 69%, believe in angels [1]. Angels hold a significant place in various religions and traditions, providing comfort and familiarity to those who worship them [1]. It is interesting to note that the belief in angels is comparable to the belief in heaven and the power of prayer, but it falls slightly below the belief in God or a higher power, which stands at 79% [1].
The poll also shed light on other spiritual beliefs held by Americans. It revealed that around 83% of adults think that there are unexplainable things, similar to the number of individuals who believe in God or a higher power [2]. Additionally, approximately 42% of respondents expressed a belief in spiritual energy rooted in physical things like plants, rivers, or crystals[2]. This indicates a significant portion of the population holding a belief in the mystical or metaphysical properties of certain physical objects.
Comparatively, belief in the devil or Satan is held by 56% of U.S. adults [1] [2]. Meanwhile, astrology and reincarnation have a lower following, each being believed by around 34% of the population [1] [2]. Interestingly, only about a third of U.S. adults, 34%, believe in reincarnation and astrology [2].
Furthermore, the poll conducted in May 2023 using the AmeriSpeak® Panel involved 1,680 adults, and the margin of error was +/- 3.4 percentage points [2]. The results also indicated that 6% of respondents did not believe in any of the surveyed items, suggesting that a small portion of the population identifies as non-believers in these spiritual concepts [2].
The belief in angels, heaven, prayer, and unexplainable phenomena beyond science or nature was found to be more prevalent than belief in the devil or hell [2]. It’s worth noting that 86% of those who believe in unexplainable phenomena also believe in God or a higher power [2]. This indicates that a significant portion of people who hold spiritual beliefs sees a connection between various aspects of the spiritual realm.
Additionally, the findings align with a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, which showed that belief in heaven is higher at 73% and belief in hell at 62% [3]. Evangelicals, in particular, showed high belief in heaven (96%) and hell (91%), with only 16% believing in reincarnation [3].
In conclusion, the AP-NORC polls suggest that belief in angels is prevalent among U.S. adults, with approximately 7 in 10 holding this belief. This belief is on par with belief in heaven and the power of prayer but ranks lower than belief in God or a higher power. The polls also highlight other spiritual beliefs held by Americans, such as belief in the devil or Satan, astrology, reincarnation, and the idea that physical things can possess spiritual energies. These beliefs play a significant role in shaping the spiritual landscape of the nation.
References:
[1] CBS News – Do you believe in angels? About 7 in 10 U.S. adults do, a new AP-NORC poll shows.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/religion-poll-do-you-believe-in-angels-7-in-10-adults-do/
[2] AP-NORC – Belief in angels and heaven is more common than belief in the devil or hell.
https://apnorc.org/projects/belief-in-angels-and-heaven-is-more-common-than-belief-in-the-devil-or-hell/
[3] Christian Headlines – Belief in Heaven and Prayer Twice as Popular as Reincarnation and Astrology: Poll. https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/belief-in-heaven-and-prayer-twice-as-popular-as-reincarnation-and-astrology-poll.html