Whether calling upon them for divine protection or solace, almost 70 percent of U.S. adults believe in angels, according to a July 2023 poll conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It’s a stat that beats a belief in the devil and even hell.
George Mason, senior pastor emeritus at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, told Fox News Digital, “I think people want to believe that the universe is friendly and benevolent toward them. Angels are consistent with the character of a loving God. They are present in our lives in order to communicate that, whether through messages of grace and encouragement somehow received intuitively in human spirit or through human beings.”
According to Dylan Potter, PH.D. and author of the book “Angelology,” Angels’ role in people’s worldview can be attributed to various psychological, religious, sociocultural, and historical factors. He continued, “The belief in angels is deeply rooted in religious and spiritual traditions, and their significance can differ across different cultures and belief systems.” Angels are part of what Mason calls the “invisible creation that we call heaven.”
Mason said, “I think some people think of creation as being only this visible world that we have, but in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and heaven is the invisible realm of creation.” He added, “It’s where God and the angels and those who are departed, who live with God and the angels, continue to exist.” Potter said comfort is one of the most common reasons people call out to angels, both in biblical and modern times.
He continued, “The belief in angels can provide psychological comfort and reassurance, especially in times of distress, grief or uncertainty. One sees this in the biblical text quite frequently, where a notable individual is perplexed or in danger, and an angel comes to comfort them, often with the message to ‘fear not.’”
People also turn to angels for protection, but Mason said he doesn’t think “guardian” is their role, preferring the term “messenger.” He said, “If you believe that angels are in the business of protecting you, then you also have to answer the question of why some people are not protected from tragedies and others are.”
The word angel is derived from the Greek word “angelos,” which, in this case, means heavenly messenger. Potter said, “The subtext of the role of angels in the biblical text is complex but generally supports the idea that God is active in the world.” He continued, “So God dispatches higher-order beings, which we call ‘angels,’ to intercede in the physical world. Angels in the biblical text are always quick to clarify that they are simply messengers.”
Of those who said they believe in angels, 84 percent claim a religious affiliation, according to the AP-NORC poll. Thirty-three percent of those who believe in angels do not claim any religion. Also believing in angels are 2 percent of atheists and 25 percent of agnostics who responded to the survey.
The AP-NORC poll also revealed that 60 percent of respondents believe in heaven, more significant than their beliefs in the devil (56 percent) or hell (58 percent).