Americans believe in miracles

Christian Century, May 24, 2000

The vast majority of Americans believe that God performs miracles, a Newsweek poll shows. Nearly half said they have personally experienced or seen a miracle, according to the poll released in the May 1 edition of the newsweekly. Eighty-four percent of Americans said that God performs miracles and 79 percent said they believe the miracles detailed in the Bible actually occurred, the poll said. About two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) said they have prayed for a miracle. Sixty-three percent said they know someone who claims to have received a miracle and 48 percent said they have witnessed or experienced one themselves.

An overwhelming number of Christians--90 percent--said they believe in miracles, compared to 46 percent of non-Christians. Ninety-eight percent of evangelical Protestants surveyed said they believe in miracles. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they think believers of other faiths can receive miracles. A majority of Americans--77 percent--said they believe that God or the saints have healed or cured sick people who medical doctors said had no chance to survive. Seventy-two percent of those polled said people who face death in natural disasters or accidents can be saved by a miracle.