The Latest Survey Data
Edited By Karlyn Bowman

A Prayerful Nation

It should come as no surprise that a deeply religious nation finds prayer to be a source of comfort in difficult times. In a March poll, 87 percent said they had prayed for those affected by the war in Iraq. After Hurricane Katrina, a virtually identical number said they had prayed for the victims and their families. Nearly all Americans said prayers after 9/11. Nearly two thirds of Americans say they pray daily, and 45 percent say they pray every day before meals.

 

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Support for a Constitutional amendment to allow voluntary prayer in the public schools is strong. Sixty-three percent of those who say they seldom or never go to church favor the idea, as do majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Teens favor a moment of silence by overwhelming margins, and a solid majority of them (58 percent) prefer a spoken prayer (that does not mention any specific religion).

 

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