American Bible Society finds belief in virgin birth falls below half of U.S. adults
The American Bible Society reported on Oct. 12, 2026 that just 49% of U.S. adults say the virgin birth of Jesus is at least probably true, the first time a major national poll has recorded belief below the 50% mark.
The finding appears in the organization’s 16th annual State of the Bible report, which surveyed 2,649 Americans between Jan. 8 and Jan. 27. The same data show 53% still believe Jesus’ resurrection, while 44% think God miraculously part‑ed the Red Sea.
Practicing Christians remain overwhelmingly convinced of these miracles: 97% affirm the virgin birth, 99% the resurrection, and 92% the Red Sea parting, according to the report.
For comparison, Pew Research Center data indicated 73% of Americans believed in the virgin birth in 2014 and 66% in 2017, though the surveys used different wording and methods.
John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society’s chief innovation officer and editor‑in‑chief of the State of the Bible series, said the results reflect a broader cultural shift toward questioning core biblical claims. “Most of our neighbors sense that our lives are more than a material existence,” Plake said in a press statement. “The Bible helps us understand how the natural world and the supernatural world are connected, and it’s our responsibility to help our fellow Americans open the Bible and experience a life‑changing encounter with God.”
The study also explored how respondents cope with spiritual attacks. Seventy‑four percent identified prayer as the most helpful practice, while 36% cited declaring the authority of Jesus Christ. Only 15% listed meditating on or quoting Scripture, a response the Society noted it hopes to bolster.
Analysts suggest the decline in belief may prompt churches to intensify biblical teaching and repentance. “The call to return to biblical truth must begin with us,” one commentator observed, noting that strengthening discipleship could help reverse the trend.
The American Bible Society plans to continue monitoring belief trends in future iterations of the State of the Bible report, aiming to provide clearer insight for faith leaders and the public alike.
