American Religion 2024

Survey Research 2024

A recent Pew Research Center survey conducted between February 13 and 25, 2024, sheds light on Americans’ views regarding religion’s role in public life and the religiosity of political figures.

Here are some key findings:

Religion’s Influence Decline:

80% of U.S. adults believe that religion’s role in American life is shrinking – the highest percentage recorded in Pew’s surveys.

Interestingly, 57% express a positive view of religion’s influence on American life, with 49% considering its decline a bad thing and 8% believing it’s growing and positive.

Views on Presidential Candidates:

About half of U.S. adults consider it “very” or “somewhat” important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, even if different from their own.

However, few Americans view either President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump as very religious: only 13% think Biden is very religious, and just 4% say this about Trump.

Conflict Between Beliefs and Culture:

48% of U.S. adults perceive conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream American culture, up from 42% in 2020.

29% identify themselves as religious minorities, and 41% believe it’s best to avoid discussing religion when there’s disagreement.

Conservative Christians vs. Secular Liberals:

72% of religiously unaffiliated adults (atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular”) believe conservative Christians have gone too far in trying to control religion in government and public schools.

Conversely, 63% of Christians say the same about secular liberals.

Partisan Differences:

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to favor religious influence in governance and public life.

For instance, 42% of Republicans think the Bible should have more influence on U.S. laws than the will of the people when they conflict.

These findings highlight the ongoing shifts in religious attitudes and the complex relationship between religion, culture, and politics in the United States. As organized religion continues to lose influence, more Americans identify as “spiritual but not religious” or as part of the growing group known as the “nones” – those who don’t affiliate with any specific religious tradition.

Pew Research link: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/03/15/8-in-10-americans-say-religion-is-losing-influence-in-public-life/

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