From The Conversation · Ruiqian Li · · 1m 10s
Americans Trust Science But Still Believe in Ghosts
Americans who trust science but attend church are more likely to believe in ghosts and curses.
In brief
Americans who trust science but attend church are more likely to believe in ghosts and curses. Americans who trust science and attend church are twice as likely to believe in ghosts and curses compared to those who reject secular rationalism. Originally reported by The Conversation.
New Research Finds
Americans who trust science and attend church are more likely to believe in ghosts and curses.
Study Published in 2026
My co-authors and I published research in the journal Social Forces in July 2026.
Baylor Religion Survey
The survey measured 1,812 American adults in early 2025.
Secular Rationalism
Secular rationalism means trusting science over religious teachings for understanding the world.
Belief in Magic
People who trust science but believe in God are twice as likely to believe in ghosts and curses.
Key Findings
Among Americans who believe in God, 40% believe in magic versus 19% who reject secular rationalism.
What Matters Next
Researchers need to track the same people over time to see if they drift away from religion.
The headline
Americans who trust science and attend church are twice as likely to believe in ghosts and curses compared to those who reject secular rationalism.
