In recent headlines, it seems that a new poll conducted by the Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion reveals that more than half of all American believe they have been touched by the assistance of a guardian angel (at some point in their lives). Out of 1,700 respondents to a poll based on the subject matter, 55% agreed that they were ‘protected from harm by a guardian angel.’ In this article, you will learn interesting facts about this study, as well as a couple of facts concerning angels.
When the results of the poll poured in, researchers were actually surprised. Equipped with standard views regarding region, education levels, and denomination, the majority of respondents believing in guardian angels were not expected. While the study did not solely focus on this topic, but also touched upon a variety of other religious issues, they did not expect the guardian angel aspect to prove somewhat shocking.
The results of the poll will lead researchers and sociologists to dig deeper into some of the religious beliefs that Americans hold, which spans a grand spectrum of values and ways of thinking. For instance, many African American faiths and the Pentecostal faith involves practices and traditions centered on healing, prophesying and speaking in tongues. The concept of the supernatural and other unseen forces are not out of their realm of belief.
Some assessments explored and recorded pertaining to the ‘guardian angel’ poll may appear in a soon-to-be released book titled “What Americans Really Believe.” A couple of other tidbits of information that surfaced from the poll, includes:
1) It was revealed that 37% of respondents earning more than $150,000 a year stated to believe in guardian angels.
2) It is assessed that a great deal of Americans has experienced supernatural encounters at least once in their lifetime.
3) Other hints of supernatural encounters that emerged in the study produced statements, such as “I heard the voice of God speaking to me” and “I received a miraculous physical healing.”
In case you’re still thirsty for more angelic conversation, consider the following facts concerning angels:
· In the Bible, angels are mentioned nearly 300 times.
· Genesis 16:7 gave us our first description of an angel.
· It is said that small children have guardian angels, as seen in: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.” (Matt 18:10, 11)
· While angels are traditionally portrayed as possessing wings, spiritual research suggests that only 30% of angels actually did. It is believed that those that did have wings belonged to the lowest order of angels.
· The existence of angels has not always been so, as they were created before Adam. Only four angelic beings (Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer, and Abbadon) were mentioned by name in scripture. “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:15, 16)
· There are 30 different kinds of angels, where the most well known include Archangels Principalities, Seraphim, Powers, Dominions, and Cherubim.