Copyright WJLA
The highest share of Americans in 15 years said religion is gaining influence in society, a showed. Thirty-one percent of Americans said religion is gaining influence. That’s still the clear minority view, but there’s been a big shift from even a year ago. In 2024, a two-decade low of 18% said religion was gaining influence in American life. Now, 68% of people view religion as losing influence, down from 80% last year. And more Americans are feeling positive about religion. Fifty-nine percent hold a positive view of religion. Those folks either feel good about the growing influence of religion or they feel bad about the perceived decline of religion’s influence. That share is up 10 percentage points from 2022. And a growing share of people said there is at least some conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream culture. J.P. De Gance, the founder of nonprofit ministry , said the Pew Research Center data adds to “growing evidence of a revival.” He said his church partners are reporting higher Sunday attendance. And more young people are showing up at church, he said. “I think the Holy Spirit's really doing something right now, and there is a real tangible move around faith in the country,” De Gance said. “And it's a good thing.” De Gance said church participation is “good for the American Republic on a lot of levels.” People need to seek a purpose outside of themselves, he said. And as loneliness and isolation reach what the former U.S. surgeon general , De Gance said faith can help. “I think there is a real hunger for something more meaningful. ... We've got a generation of people who were given a supercomputer in their hands, in the smartphone, and access to social media very young. And they've gone through these digital rat mazes, and they're looking for something more,” De Gance said. “And I think that's something that you're seeing reflected in this polling data.” The Pew Research Center found that young adults, 18-29, accounted for the biggest jump in those who see religion as gaining influence. Thirty-seven percent of young adults, compared to 31% overall, said religion is gaining influence. But young adults were also the least likely to hold positive views of religion, at just 46%. Those 65 and older were most likely to hold positive views of religion, at 71%. Oklahoma State University politics professor said elected leaders would be wise to heed the shifting views on religion. Fair or not, Republicans often claim the side of religion. The Pew Research Center showed nearly identical levels of Republicans and Democrats see religion’s influence growing, though Republicans (78%) were much more likely to hold a positive view of religion compared to Democrats (40%). But McKee said any savvy Republican or Democrat should put effort into meeting the needs of religious people. “Is it a movement? I don't know. But I mean, those numbers are large,” he said of the Pew Research Center survey data. “So, you can't ignore. There's no way.” Faith and partisan politics are often mixed, McKee said. But he said there are also likely plenty of Americans who are looking to faith as a respite from political division. “And maybe that's a sign of the times, too. ... When people are at each other's throats, and we're so divided, I think a lot of people, rather than looking to political parties, I think a lot of people have sought out churches again,” McKee said.
