Survey Finds Faith Strengthened by the COVID-19 Pandemic

One in four Americans reports their faith has become stronger as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a majority of citizens with religious affiliations (61 percent) are engaging in activities to help others, like looking after neighbors, according to a nationwide survey recently conducted by the University of Chicago Divinity School and the Associated Press-(an acronym for National Opinion Research Center for Public Affairs Research). 

An oriental woman prays
(By Dusan Spasic, Shutterstock.com)
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The poll, which explores the ways in which people’s faith can influence their views about the pandemic—and conversely, how the global crisis can affect their faith—was conducted from April 30 through May 4 by the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. 

According to the survey, 26 percent of respondents reported a strengthening of their faith or spirituality amid the pandemic, while only 1 percent said the crisis had weakened their faith. 

“The current economic and public health crisis has in no way weakened people’s faith,” said David Nirenberg, Dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School

The pandemic appears to have driven more Americans of many religious persuasions to rely on live-streaming services for spiritual sustenance than was the case prior to the pandemic.

In 2019, for example, 27 percent of Protestants, 11 percent of Catholics, 22 percent of other Christians, and 6 percent of people professing other religions watched live-streaming services.

Following the pandemic, those percentages have shot up to 44 percent for Protestants, 22 percent for Catholics, 31 percent for other Christians, and 16 percent for respondents from other religions.

“Like in many facets of life these days, people are adapting and finding ways to fulfill their spiritual needs during the outbreak,” Trevor Tompson, director of The AP NORC Center said. 

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COVID-19 Survey
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