Study Explores Link Between Secular Rationalism and Supernatural Beliefs

A study published in the journal Social Forces suggests that Americans who combine belief in God with a strong trust in science and reason are more likely to hold supernatural beliefs, such as in ghosts or curses. Researchers analyzed data from the 2025 Baylor Religion Survey, which included 1,812 participants, to examine how religious faith and secular rationalism coexist.

The findings indicate that individuals who prioritize personal interpretation over traditional religious authority often maintain supernatural views. Among those who believe in God, approximately 40 percent of those with high secular rationalist tendencies expressed belief in magic, compared to 19 percent of those who did not share those rationalist views. A similar trend was observed among regular church attendees.

Lead researcher Ruiqian Li and co-authors suggest that these results challenge the assumption that moving away from institutional religious authority leads to a complete abandonment of supernatural concepts. The study highlights that the intersection of personal spirituality and skepticism toward religious institutions plays a significant role in shaping how individuals perceive the supernatural world.