Poll: 2 of 3 American believers see message from God in coronavirus

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Nearly two-thirds of American believers of all faiths think the coronavirus pandemic is a message from God to humanity to "change how it lives, according to a new poll.

The findings by the University of Chicago Divinity School and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicate people are searching for deeper meaning in the crisis, the Associated Press reported.

"Even some who don't affiliate with organized religion, such as Lance Dejesus of Dallastown, Pennsylvania, saw a possible bigger message in the virus," the report said.

"It could be a sign, like 'hey, get your act together’ – I don't know," said Dejesus, 52.

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"It just seems like everything was going in an OK direction and all of a sudden you get this coronavirus thing that happens, pops out of nowhere."

The poll found 31% of Americans who believe in God feel strongly the virus is God telling humanity to change.

Another 31%, AP said, feel that somewhat.

AP reported evangelical protestants, at 43%, are more likely than others to believe strongly that God is sending a message, compared with 28% of Catholics and mainline Protestants.

"When people get asked about God, they often interpret it immediately as power," Kathryn Lofton, a Yale religion professor, told AP. "And they answer the question saying, 'Here's where the power is to change the thing I experience.'"

Lofton, who worked on the polling, said many "fear that if we don't change, this misery will continue."

AP said the question was asked of all Americans who said they believe in God, without specifying a specific faith.

The poll found 47% of black Americans say they feel the virus is a sign God wants humanity to change. For Latinos, it was 37% and for whites 27%.

"The COVID-19 virus has disproportionately walloped black Americans, exposing societal inequality that has left minorities more vulnerable and heightening concern that the risks they face are getting ignored by a push to reopen the U.S. economy," the report said.

The report said 82% of Americans say they believe in God, and 26% say their faith or spirituality has grown stronger during the outbreak. Fifty-five percent of American believers say they feel at least somewhat that God will protect them from being infected.