{"id":14951,"date":"2013-12-25T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2013-12-25T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/most-americans-believe-in-jesus-virgin-birth\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:26:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:26:08","slug":"most-americans-believe-in-jesus-virgin-birth","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2013\/12\/25\/most-americans-believe-in-jesus-virgin-birth\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Americans believe in Jesus\u2019 virgin birth"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

For most Americans, the Christmas story of Jesus\u2019 birth still has real meaning. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of adults say they believe Jesus was born of a virgin, according to a new Pew Research survey on how Americans celebrate Christmas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

\n

Majorities in the largest Christian religious groups believe in the virgin birth of Jesus, but the survey finds some variation. For example, fewer white mainline Protestants (70%) share this view than white evangelical Protestants (97%).<\/p>\n

Even among Americans who have no specific religious affiliation, the story of Christ\u2019s birth resonates with many. One-third (32%) of this group say they believe in the virgin birth. This might seem surprising, but according to a 2012 Pew Research poll<\/a>, about one in five (18%) of those who have no religious affiliation describe themselves as religious, while nearly four-in-ten (37%) say they are spiritual but not religious; another four-in-ten (42%) say they are neither religious nor spiritual.<\/p>\n

The new Christmas poll found an age gap on the question of Jesus\u2019 birth. Two-thirds of adults under age 30 say they believe Jesus was born of a virgin, compared with three-quarters (76%) of those age 30 and older.<\/p>\n

Differences also exist along racial lines. Nine-in-ten African-Americans (90%) believe in the virgin birth, as do nearly eight-in-ten Hispanics (78%) and seven-in-ten whites (71%). Women are more likely to believe in the virgin birth than men (78% vs. 69%).<\/p>\n

According to the new poll, roughly half of Americans (51%) see Christmas mostly as a religious holiday, while one-third (32%) view it as more of a cultural holiday. About half (54%) say they plan to attend religious services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most U.S. adults believe Jesus was born of a virgin, including one-third of Americans with no specific religious 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