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| Percentage of Americans who believe in God, heaven and angels hit a record low |
In a recent survey conducted by Gallup, it was revealed that the percentage of Americans holding belief in God, heaven, and angels has reached an all-time low. The survey also indicated that belief in hell and the devil has similarly dwindled to record lows.
Released on Thursday, the new survey highlights that 74 percent of Americans currently profess belief in God. However, this figure marks a decline from 79 percent in 2016 and a substantial drop from the 90 percent recorded in 2004. Similarly, belief in angels and heaven has seen significant declines compared to earlier polls. In 2007, 75 percent of respondents believed in angels, while 81 percent believed in heaven. In the latest survey, only 69 percent of Americans say they believe in angels, and 67 percent believe in heaven.
Gallup's Megan Brenan points out that the decline in belief is not confined to just these spiritual entities; the survey has documented sharp declines in church attendance, confidence in organized religion, and religious identification in recent years. Since 2001, Americans' beliefs concerning God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil have all experienced double-digit declines. Nonetheless, the majority of U.S. adults still hold onto these beliefs, with certain groups remaining particularly steadfast, including regular churchgoers, Protestants, and Republicans.
This 2023 survey differs from Gallup's previous ones by providing Americans with three options for belief in God: "yes," "no," and "not sure." Out of those surveyed, 74 percent confirmed their belief in God, 14 percent were unsure, and 12 percent stated that they do not believe in God. In the 2022 survey, which only offered "yes" or "no" options, 81 percent expressed belief in God, albeit still being a record low for that specific wording. Interestingly, as the percentage of believers has decreased over the past two decades, the corresponding increases have predominantly occurred in nonbelief, with smaller increases in uncertainty. However, belief in God has seen nearly equal rises in both uncertainty and nonbelief.
Gallup's survey also looked into Americans' belief in hell and the devil. The results showed that belief in hell was reported by 59 percent of respondents, while belief in the devil stood at 58 percent, both marking new lows.
Another noteworthy finding from the survey is the correlation between income, education, and belief. The data indicates that as individuals possess higher levels of education and income, they are less likely to hold belief in God.
Finally, the survey revealed that only 51 percent of Americans believe in the existence of all five spiritual entities—God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil.
In summary, the Gallup survey demonstrates a significant shift in Americans' beliefs in recent years. With belief in God, heaven, and angels at historic lows, and a notable decline in belief in hell and the devil, the survey paints a clear picture of the changing spiritual landscape in the United States.
