As vaccination rates rise across the United States, life in religious congregations is showing signs of slowly returning to normal. Twenty-one percent of adults are attending religious services in-person at least once a week, up from 5% in May 2020. While fewer are watching live streaming services, many continue to pray privately in their homes.
Most Americans believed in God before the outbreak and still do. About a quarter say their faith or spirituality has strengthened because of the outbreak and only a few say it’s been weakened. A majority who believe in God feel that God is telling humanity to change how it is living and that God is protecting them from being infected. …
Those who believe in God have not changed their views about God in relation to the pandemic. Among them, few think God has abandoned humanity or have doubt that God exists. A majority do think the COVID-19 pandemic is a sign that God is telling humanity to change how people live, including 36% who feel so strongly and 30% who feel so somewhat. And 53% think God will protect them from the virus.
Fifty-eight percent of white evangelical Protestants along with 77% of non-white Protestants think God will protect them from coronavirus infection. Among Catholics, 49% say God will protect them from getting sick with COVID-19 along with 37% of white mainline Protestants and 42% of people who do not identify with any particular religion. CONTINUED
Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research
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