Holy shift: Religion is growing less important, polling shows
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In recent years, the US has undergone a transition from a nation where religion is a key part of the day-to-day lives of most citizens, to one where it no longer holds much importance, according to new Gallup polling published yesterday.
What it found: Fewer than half of Americans (49%) say religion is currently an important part of their daily lives, the lowest level on record and down from 66% in 2015.
- That 17-point drop ranks among the largest recorded in any country over any 10-year period, dating back at least to 2007, per Gallup data from 160+ nations.
- However, the US still ranks higher than the median among the 38 OECD nations, where 36% of adults call religion important.
Driving the trend
While Gallup’s data doesn’t break down the demographics of US religion, outside experts say the ongoing exodus from organized religion is being led by Gen Z women.
They point to several factors behind the move:
- Some younger women take issue with religious gender hierarchies, the inability of women to serve in influential positions, or expectations of chastity placed upon girls.
- Others say they struggle with their church’s positions on reproductive rights and/or LGBTQ+ issues.
But, but: While Americans are increasingly placing less importance on religion, the number of people who identify as spiritual remains high. 74% of US adults called themselves spiritual in 2023-24, including half of Americans unaffiliated with any religion, per the latest Religious Landscape Study from Pew Research.
- Additionally, data from Christian research firm Barna Group pushes back against Gallup’s findings, showing that younger adults are actually driving a resurgence in church attendance and now outpace older generations in the pews.
Bottom line: The US no longer fits neatly into any global category of belief, possessing a medium-high Christian identity but only middling religiosity—a combination Gallup says is rarely seen in other nations.
đź“Š Flash poll: Is religion an important part of your daily life?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that many Americans are now turning back to religion after a decades-long trend away from it mostly due to the fact that all the alternatives out there aren’t quite as satisfying as the feeling that organized religion can bring to many people.
- Others contend that many Americans, especially Gen Z women, are shying away from organized Christianity due to the current right-wing voices who proclaim to be Christian, but instead promote non-Christian values like strength over mercy, punishment over grace, and wealth over sacrifice.
- “Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion” –Lauren Jackson, NY Times
- “Faith without compassion: Exposing the false religion of America’s right-wing Christianity” –Mitchell A. Sobieski, Milwaukee Independent
- “Gen Z is returning to Christianity. Data proves it.” –Ed Stetzer, USA Today
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that while many headlines may talk about how Americans on the whole are losing their religion, the reality is that many of those people are still spiritual and believe in God or some other deity, they just don’t classify themselves as “religious.”
- Others contend that the recent murder of Charlie Kirk may have helped the breathtaking revival of interest in Christian values among young people in the US and elsewhere, but that trend—which is the ticket to a brighter future—was present for some time before then.
- “Are Americans Really Losing Their Religion?” –Ryan Burge and Tony Jones, WSJ
- “Religion on the rebound” –Frank Perley, Washington Times
- “Something Is Stirring in Christian America, and It’s Making Me Nervous” –David French, NY Times
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