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Prayer in America

April 30, 2009

The National Day of Prayer, established by Congress in 1952, occurs on May 7 this year. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, shows that prayer is a common religious practice in America, with nearly six-in-ten adults in the U.S. saying they pray at least once a day. However, frequency of prayer differs significantly by religious tradition, age, gender and income.

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Data from the Pew Forum U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, conducted May 8 to Aug. 13, 2007, among more than 35,000 Americans age 18 and older; released in 2008.

Question wording: People practice their religion in different ways. Outside of attending religious services, do you pray several times a day, once a day, a few times a week, once a week, a few times a month, seldom, or never?

More Resources


Forum logo Pew Forum

Aug. 28, 2008
Analysis: On Ceremonial Occasions, May the Government Invoke a Deity?

June 23, 2008
U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Comparisons

June 23, 2008
U.S. Religious Landscape Survey: Beliefs and Practices (PDF)

News

April 21, 2009
National Day of Prayer events overshadowed by politics

Religion News Service

Feb. 5, 2009
Obama Talks God at National Prayer Breakfast
ABC News

Jan. 15, 2009
Judge rejects atheist challenge to inaugural prayer
Religion News Service

 

Other Websites

National Day of Prayer Task Force

National Day of Reason


 

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