Ghosts, goblins? Many Americans are believers
Ghosts and goblins are more than Halloween decorations or costumes for many Americans who confessed they believe in the supernatural and returning from the grave.
Thirty-seven percent of 2,100 adults questioned in a Zogby Interactive poll said they think ghosts are real, and 23 percent believe they have been visited by a deceased relative or friend.
Even the 22 percent who said they have not had any ghostly experiences themselves know someone who has.
“More than a third of Americans have this belief that ghosts do exist,” said a spokesman for Zogby, adding that the findings were surprising.
Nearly half of those questioned said if they could be a ghost, they would choose to come back as themselves.
But belief in the supernatural is not required to enjoy Halloween. Eighty-seven percent of parents said their children would be dressing up for the holiday and 71 percent would be trick-or-treating.
Ghosts, astrology, New Age: you name it, Americans believe it
Although most Americans are Christian and many are devout, that hasn’t stopped some members of the flock from believing in astrology, reincarnation or the ability of trees to trap spiritual energy.
A new poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life shows a surprising number of U.S. adults claim to have had supernatural experiences such as ghost sightings or hold beliefs associated with the New Age movement or Eastern religions.
Among its findings: nearly 25 percent of U.S. adults polled said they believed in reincarnation and 23 percent said yoga was a spiritual practice. Twenty six percent said they believed “spiritual energy” could be found in objects such as trees. Eighteen percent said they have seen or been in the presence of a ghost.
And some of these respondents claim allegiance to more traditional faiths such as Catholicism or evangelical Protestantism.
“American religious folks hold a variety of views and there is overlap among their beliefs and practices. Many do not fit into simple boxes,” said Pew researcher Alan Cooperman.
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Resident FaithWorld Expert
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It has just occurred to me that there are no reports that I can find of any Muslims haunted by ghosts, or evil forces in their homes, makes me think it’s just Christian nonsense