"Poll: Most Americans pray regularly"

(AP, September 19, 2002)

BOSTON (AP) . While less than half of Americans regularly attend religious services, more than 60 percent said they prayed once or more a day, according to a poll by The Christian Science Monitor.

A third who prayed regularly said they did so more after the Sept. 11 attacks, but more than 60 percent said the tragedy did not change the amount they prayed.

Less than a third of the more than 900 adults surveyed said the terrorist strikes made them more interested in participating in interfaith services.

Since the war on terror began, many clergy have held worship services with other denominations to promote religious tolerance. However, some conservative Christians have resisted, saying interfaith worship sent the wrong message that all religions were the same.

The poll, released last week, included questions asked Aug. 5-9 and Sept. 3-8 and had a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.