How Moore Tornado Affected Feelings Toward God and Generosity

The deadly tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma, last week likely changed how many Americans feel about God and generosity, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults conducted by LifeWay Research just days after the disaster.

"Nearly six in 10 Americans (57 percent) agree with the statement, 'When a natural disaster occurs, my interest in God increases,'" according to LifeWay. "Thirty-one percent disagree and 12 percent don’t know."
The full report suggests that 1 in 3 people say they "trust God more" in the midst of suffering caused by natural disasters. Another 1 in 4 people report being "confused by God," but only 1 in 10 wonders "if God cares."


Among those most likely to doubt God's existence in the way of disaster? Younger Americans, LifeWay says. Meanwhile, "Southerners, frequent church attendees, and those without a college degree are likely to trust God more during disasters."
And along with trust in God comes trust in faith-based relief efforts: 56 percent of those surveyed reported that they trust faith-based relief groups more than they trust secular ones (28 percent)—"nearly a two-to-one margin." LifeWay reports that "almost 60 percent of Americans donate to relief agencies in the wake of natural disasters. Thirty percent donate to both faith-based and secular relief agencies, 15 percent donate to faith-based relief agencies only and 12 percent donate to secular relief agencies only."