Is God Really Active in Peoples' Lives?

Despite sliding church attendance rates, America is still an overwhelmingly religious country. Case in point: A new YouGov poll found that 38 percent of Americans claimed they have done something because God told them to do it. This indicates that many people see God as an active figure in world affairs.

Evangelical or born again Christians are the most likely to say that they acted based on God's guidance. But there's a big difference between these individuals and the rest of the nation -- at least when it comes to this indicator.

While 65 percent of born again Christians said they have done something because God told them to, only 25 percent of the remaining American population answered the same.

Credit: YouGov

Other religious differences are worth noting as well. On the whole, Protestants (56 percent) are more likely than Catholics (39 percent) to say they have had the same experience.

Politically speaking, there actually isn't much of a difference between the two biggest parties. Forty-two percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats highlighted having this experience; only 37 percent of Independents reported the same.

Females (41 percent) were also more likely than males (36 percent) to report experiencing God in this way.

Credit: YouGov

This claim of doing something based on God's guidance is generally considered rare even among those who admit experiencing it.

Only 10 percent of those who believe in God said that it happens "all the time." An additional 16 percent said that it unfolds "most of the time." In sum, only 26 percent of those who believe in God said it's a regular occurrence.

Fifty percent of the country reported that they have either never had this experience or that they are unsure.

Additionally, YouGov found that 40 percent of respondents said God sometimes controls the weather -- another piece of evidence that shows how many believe in a highly-active and involved diety.

Read the full results here. And take the poll and let us know -- have you ever done something because you felt God told you to do it?

Featured Image Credit: ShutterStock.com

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