A survey conducted by the University of Chicago’s NORC in 2022, has uncovered some interesting data on American’s belief in God, the Christian Post reports.

NORC is one of America’s largest social research organizations.

The 2022 survey was part of an annual survey that NORC has conducted since 1972 studying changing opinions in society.

When it came to faith, the survey found that less than half of Americans, 49.6%, stated that they unquestionably believed in the existence of God.

For the remainder of Americans:

• 16.4% said they believed in God, but admitted they have some doubts,
• 14.4% stated they believed in a higher power. This type of answer seems to reflect uncertainty on whether this higher power would even be classified as God,
• 7.5% of Americans claimed they are uncertain about the existence of God,
• 6.8% stated they don’t believe there is a God, and
• 5.4% said they believed in God sometimes.

When it came to having a personal experience with God which the survey defined as “a turning point in your life when you committed yourself to Christ?” only 38.8% stated they have done this. With 61.7% stating no.

But despite the varying levels of belief in God, the survey found that nearly 80% of Americans admitted that they prayed. This ranged from several times a day to less than once a week.

Of those who prayed, the frequency varied:

• 29.6% said they prayed several times a day,
• 19.5% prayed once a day,
• 11.8% stated they prayed several times a week,
• 5.4% said they prayed at least once a week, and
• 12.9% prayed less than once a week.

So it would seem from this poll that a significant percentage of Americans fall into the category of the man with a son who was possessed by a devil recorded in Mark 9.

After Christ’s disciples had failed to deliver his son while Jesus was up on the Mount of Transfiguration, the man turned to Jesus for help once the Lord had returned with these fateful words.

“But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

After the disciples’ miserable failure, Jesus immediately recognized that the man was now even questioning Christ’s ability to help and Jesus replied with, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”

Christ’s answer quickly exposed the real source of the man’s problem.

The issue was not God’s ability, but rather our faith, and we need to take responsibility for it, which is exactly what this man did.

He did not do this by suddenly believing, but rather by honestly confessing his unbelief with these fateful words, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”

And Jesus responded to this confession by delivering his son.

READ: Less than half of US adults believe in God without a doubt, but majority still pray: study