Exclusive New Poll Shows COVID-19 Creating Enormous Spiritual Interest, Causing Americans To Read The Bible, Listen To Sermons, Some For First Time

MCLEAN, Va., March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half of Americans (44%) say they believe that the coronavirus and resulting economic meltdown is a "wake-up call for us to turn back to faith in God," and/or "signs of coming judgment," according to a new poll commissioned by The Joshua Fund.  

The survey was conducted March 23-26, 2020, by nationally respected pollsters McLaughlin & Associates. It was commissioned by The Joshua Fund, an Evangelical non-profit educational and charitable organization founded in 2006 by Joel C. Rosenberg. Rosenberg is a New York Times best-selling author of non-fiction and fiction books. He is best known for writing about "worst-case scenarios." He has specifically written about pandemics in his 2006 book Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future, and his 2012 book, Implosion: Can America Recover from Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time?

"This survey provides a fascinating window into how Americans see the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is dramatically increasing their interest in spiritual matters," said Rosenberg. "The results are clear: this unprecedented global crisis is causing Americans to start reading the Bible and listen to Bible teaching and Christian sermons online, even though they usually don't; search online for teaching on Bible prophecy and God's future for mankind; and/or engage in more spiritual conversations with family and friends."

The McLaughlin & Associates questions were asked of 1,000 likely American voters. The poll had a margin of error of +/- 3.1% at a 95% confidence interval.

The breakdown of those who believe this crisis is a "wake-up call" back to faith in God includes:

• 25% of self-identified "secular" Americans;
• 42% of Jewish Americans;
• 58% of Republicans; and
• 41% of Democrats, including 34% of liberal Democrats and 47% of moderate Democrats.

Additionally, 22% of self-identified non-Christian respondents and 40% of Christian respondents indicate the global coronavirus pandemic and economic chaos have resulted in more interest in God and spiritual matters.

"These are no ordinary times," said Rosenberg. "Americans in near full lockdown are anxious, and understandably so. Yet millions are turning to God, the Bible and Christian sermons for answers, some of them for the first time. That may be the most important silver lining in this crisis so far."

What's more, nearly one-third of all Americans (29%) said they believe that this crisis indicates that "we are living in what the Bible calls the 'last days.'" Broken down by demographic, this includes:

• Nearly 30% of Jewish Americans;
• 30% of Democrats, including 27% of liberal Democrats and 34% of moderate Democrats;
• 39% of Republicans;
• 37% of military households;
• 40% of African Americans, 50% of Hispanic Americans and 25% of White Americans; and
• Some 28% of individuals 18-29, 33% of people age 30-40, 29% of people age 41-55, 33% of those between 56-65, and some 24% of seniors over 65.

In response to these results, The Joshua Fund has published "What Does The Bible Teach About Pestilence, Plagues & Global Pandemics?", a 12-page fact sheet derived from insight from a number of senior pastors, theologians and seminary professors. It can be found at www.joshuafund.com.

The full survey is also posted on The Joshua Fund website at https://www.joshuafund.com/.

Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times best-selling author of 14 novels and five nonfiction books, with nearly 5 million copies sold. His newest book, "The Jerusalem Assassin," was released March 17 and landed on the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today best-seller lists in its first week. He has been interviewed by, or written articles for, hundreds of media outlets and has been profiled by The New York Times, The Washington Times and The Jerusalem Post. A graduate of Syracuse University with a BFA in filmmaking, he is a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and lives with his family in Jerusalem, Israel. For information visit http://www.joelrosenberg.com.

The Joshua Fund is a nonprofit, non-partisan educational and charitable organization created to mobilize Christians to "bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus" by caring for the poor and needy, strengthen the Church in the Middle East and teach the importance of the Scriptures and biblical prophecy. The purpose of the survey was to better understand Americans' spiritual views, not advance any partisan political objectives or influence federal, state or local legislation. The organization was founded in 2006 by Joel and Lynn Rosenberg. For more information, visit https://www.joshuafund.com/.

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SOURCE The Joshua Fund