Among the provocative findings of two recent surveys of religious faith is that a majority of Americans who claim to be atheists are inclined to pray, one-third of them “often.” About the same number of atheists profess a belief in Satan, hell and demons. Half of them believe in angels and ghosts, according to a Baylor University study.

A nationwide survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reveals yet another mystery: that one-fifth of people who say they are atheists also say they believe in God.

Some other findings:

¢ 45 percent of Americans report having had at least two mystical experiences in their lives. Conservative Protestants, women, African-Americans and Republicans are more apt to report such experiences.

¢ Faith versus superstition: The Baylor survey reports that holding the traditional Christian faith sharply reduces credulity. Beliefs in Bigfoot, UFOs, the occult and paranormal, haunted houses and astrology do not comfortably coexist with Christianity.

¢ Four-fifths of Americans believe in miracles. That’s more than believe the Scriptures to be the word of God (63 percent) or believe that heaven exists (74 percent).

¢ Americans as a whole are about evenly divided on whether churches should become involved in political issues. At the same time, 40 percent of Americans wish the government would do more to improve the morality of American life.

¢ Church attendance. Slightly fewer than two in five Americans (39 percent) worship weekly with a congregation.