The State of Religion

Has the demise of American religious life been overstated? (Pew Research Center)

The latest annual Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study: Over the past few decades, Christian identification in the U.S. has fallen sharply, but in the past few years it looks to have stabilized, or even ticked up slightly.

• In 2023-24, 62% of U.S. adults identified as Christian, down from 71% in 2014 and 78% in 2007, but the share has remained between 60-64% since 2019.

• 7% of U.S. adults identify with a religion other than Christianity, up from 4.7% in 2007.

• 86% of Americans believe in a soul/spirit beyond the body, and 83% believe in God or a universal spirit.

OK, but: The slowing of religious decline in the U.S. may be temporary, as deeper trends continue to pull people away from faith.

• The ranks of Americans unaffiliated with any religion grew from 16% in 2007 to 29% in 2023-24.

• For every 6 people who leave Christianity, only 1 converts to it.

• Younger generations are less religious, with 43% of adults aged 18-24 identifying as unaffiliated, compared to 13% of those 74+.

The vibes: There does seem to have been a conscious push to revive Christianity and religion in intellectual, political and cultural life.

• Prominent figures once indifferent to religion—like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk—are now voicing support for Christianity, mirroring a spate of high-profile religious conversions, like those of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running mate Nicole Shanahan and actor Russell Brand.

• Once dominated by outspoken atheists like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, the intellectual world is now reconsidering religion, a trend Free Press journalist Peter Savodnik has closely documented.

Savodnik:

Bubba’s Two Cents

Christianity’s trajectory in the U.S. is full of contradictions—its decline has slowed, yet secularization marches on. At the same time, political and cultural forces are amplifying religious identity, with overt pro-Christian messaging from figures on the right, including influencers and politicians.

But these self-conscious displays could actually be a symptom of Christianity’s weakened cultural footing—once an unspoken pillar of American identity, it now requires deliberate reinforcement.

Meanwhile, widespread dissatisfaction with how digital our everyday lives have become has sparked a search for deeper meaning. It’s no surprise then that faith is experiencing a resurgence even amid a broader secular shift.