April 24, 2024
More than half of Americans say they approve of the recent Supreme Court decision to allow a public high school football coach to pray on the field, according to an AP-NORC poll. Those who say religion is important to their lives and self-identified born-again Christians were among the most likely to support the decision.
The polls suggested that most Americans are fine with players demonstrating their faith on the field, though the public is more divided over kneeling during the national anthem. More than half of Americans approve of players expressing their faith by thanking God while on the field, while 9% disapprove. Half support praying on the field, and 15% are opposed. Less than half approve of players wearing a religious symbol like a crucifix or Star of David while on the field, and 11% disapprove. When asked about kneeling during the national anthem, 30% approve, 33% neither approve nor disapprove, and 37% disapprove.
Twenty-eight percent of Americans believe prayer can play a role in determining which team wins a sporting event, while 23% say superstitions or rituals, like wearing a lucky hat, can impact the outcome, according to an AP-NORC poll.
Those most likely to be praying about a game’s outcome have more than a rooting interest in the teams. A third of American parents (33%) say they pray about their child’s sports events, including 50% of born-again Protestants, 43% of Catholics, 28% of mainline Protestants, and 15% of parents with no religious affiliation.
When asked specifically if they’ve ever prayed for their favorite team to win a game, 13% of Americans said they had, according to a 2014 Lifeway Research study.
More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event. Self-identified born-again Protestants (54%) are most likely to see a divine hand in the game’s outcome. Fewer Catholics (31%), mainline Protestants (28%), and Americans with no religious affiliation (10%) believe God decides who wins and who loses.
More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event, according to an AP-NORC poll.
