The Guardian

Non-believers turn to prayer in a crisis, poll finds

Family and friends top the list of reasons to call on God, rather than global issues such as poverty or disasters
Just under half of those who pray said they believed God hears their prayers, which suggests a slim majority feel their supplications are not answered. Photograph: Alamy

For many non-believers, it is an instinctive response to a crisis: “Please, God.” So perhaps it should not be surprising that a new survey has found that one in five adults pray despite saying they are not religious.

Just over half of all adults in the UK pray, and they are increasingly likely to call on

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