May 24, 2012
Angels play a major role in the Christmas story, but a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows they are a year-round presence for most, with 77 percent of adults saying they believe in their existence.
The poll shows belief in angels is primarily tied to religion, with 88 percent of Christians, 95 percent of evangelical Christians and 94 percent of those who attend weekly religious services of any sort saying they believe in such ethereal beings.
But belief in angels is fairly widespread even among the less religious. A majority of non-Christians think angels exist, as do more than 4 in 10 of those who never attend religious services.
The finding mirrors a 2006 AP-AOL poll, which found 81 percent believed in angels.
And more than 8 in 10 American grown-ups say they have believed in Santa.
An AP-GfK poll finds that two-thirds of parents with kids under 18 consider Santa Claus an important part of their holiday this year.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
