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SALT LAKE CITY -- A new study finds that the number of Americans who definitely believe in religious miracles increased 22 percent over nearly two decades.
Researcher Robert Martin of Pennsylvania State University studied data from 1991 to 2008, the Association of Religious Data Archives reports. According to Martin, 55 percent of respondents say they are certain religious miracles happen.
In 1991, almost 73 percent of American adults believed miracles "definitely" or "probably" happen. That number rose to 78 percent in 2008. More recently, a 2010 Pew Research Center report found 79 percent of Americans believe in miracles.
No religious affiliation but believe in miracles
| Year | Percent |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 32% |
| 2008 | 42% |
The increase spans all religions, and those who attend church services were more likely to believe in miracles. But surprisingly, the largest growth came among those who say they attend infrequently.
Martin credits things such as popular TV shows and best-selling books for adding to the culture of believing in miracles.
