Americans Who Go to Church and Trust Science Are Also More Likely to Believe in Ghosts and Curses

Americans who maintain religious beliefs, but also trust scientific reasoning and rational thought, are more likely to believe in supernatural phenomena such as ghosts and curses, according to a study published in the journal Social Forces. Researchers analyzed data from the Baylor Religion Survey, which polled 1,812 American adults in early 2025.

The study measured a concept called "secular rationalism," which posits that science is the only way to understand the world and that morality should be based on reason rather than religious teachings. Among those who embrace secular rationalism, but still believe in God or attend religious services, the likelihood of believing in magic was much higher, at 40% compared to 19% among those who reject secular rationalism.

The study found that this trend was only observed among religious Americans, not among those who do not believe in God or attend religious services.