Fewer than half of Americans believe Jesus was born of a virgin, according to a new study by the American Bible Society.
Its latest State of the Bible report found that 49% believe the virgin birth is at least probably true, while 53% believe in Jesus’ resurrection.
It is the first time a major national survey has recorded belief in the virgin birth falling below 50%. A 2017 Pew Research Center survey found 66% of Americans believed Jesus was born to a virgin, down from 73% in 2014.
However, belief remains high among practising Christians, with 97% believing in the virgin birth and 99% in the resurrection.
The study, based on responses from 2,649 American adults collected in January, also found 62% believe in the supernatural.
Most practising Christians reported having had spiritual experiences, with 90% saying they had experienced an answered prayer and 69% reporting divine healing.
John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society’s chief innovation officer, said: “Most of our neighbors sense that our lives are more than a material existence. They have a sense of the supernatural and are seeking answers to their questions in diverse ways, whether that means engaging in mainstream religious practices or diverging from them.”
