For a long time, personal religious belief was declining, according to polls. But recent surveys show that has leveled off, and that the number of people who say they are religious is holding steady.
The stability began about five years ago, according to Pew Research Center research, which finds that key measures of religiousness are holding steady in the United States since 2020. The percentage of Americans who identify with Christianity, other religions, or no religion, have held steady in recent polling.
The percentages of Americans who say they pray every day, that religion is very important in their lives, and that they regularly attend religious services also have held fairly steady since 2020. That leveling out comes after a prolonged period of decline in faith indicators. Religious belonging, behavior and belief had all been showing signs of decline for decades.
Pew researchers say the previous long-term declines were driven by generational shifts as older groups that were more religious died off. They’ve been replaced by younger generations who are less religious. People in every age group have been getting less religious as they aged, until the recent stabilization.
While there has been a stabilizing effect, Pew research shows no evidence of a widespread revival or religious resurgence happening. Young adults are much less religious than older Americans, and less religious than young adults a decade ago.
One noticeable change has been that young men are now about as religious as women in the same age group. In the past, young women tended to be more religious than men their age. Older women remain much more religious than older men. Young women have declined in religiousness, while young men stayed about the same.
Current college-age young adults – between age 18 and 22 – are at least as religious as people now in their mid-or-late twenties. Recent generations have tended to grow less religious as they age.
Source Credit: al.com
How many people in the US consider themselves religious? New poll shows surprising result
