A new study on Americans’ beliefs finds that trusting science and attending church can coexist with belief in magic. The research reports that people who place greater emphasis on scientific reasoning—rather than solely on religious teachings—are also more likely to endorse claims such as ghosts and curses.
According to the outlets covering the study, the pattern applies even among individuals who believe in God or go to religious services. Rather than being mutually exclusive, belief in science and belief in magic appear linked in the data, suggesting that for some respondents, science does not replace supernatural beliefs. One source frames the finding as Americans who balance church attendance and trust in science also being more open to magic-related beliefs. Another emphasizes the broader takeaway that belief systems can combine in ways that do not follow expected “science vs. religion” divides.
