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As U.S. Pandemic Eases, Fewer See Religion Gaining Influence
Politics

As U.S. Pandemic Eases, Fewer See Religion Gaining Influence

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Story Highlights

  • Perception that religion is gaining influence on American life sinks to 16%
  • Last year saw spike to 38% in perceptions of heightened religious influence
  • Current figure one of lowest in Â鶹´«Ã½AV's trend

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After doubling last spring and staying elevated in December, the percentage of Americans who believe that religion is increasing its influence on American life has retreated to 16%, in line with pre-pandemic levels.

Line graph. Sixteen percent of U.S. adults say religion is increasing its influence on American life, down from 38% in May 2020 and 27% in December 2020. In late 2018 and late 2019, a consistent 19% said religion was increasing its influence.

Eighty-two percent of U.S. adults now say religion is losing its influence, up from 58% in April 2020.

The latest results are based on Â鶹´«Ã½AV's annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 3-18. The 2020 spike could have been a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, as Americans likely perceived people were turning to religion to help them cope with the crisis.

Every major subgroup of Americans showed an increased belief that religion was becoming more influential in U.S. life last year, followed by a sharp decline in those attitudes this year. As a result, nearly every group has views that are similar today to what they were in 2019. Two notable exceptions are Republicans and Americans with no religious preference, as both are now less likely to perceive religion as influential.

Recent Changes in Perceptions That Religion Is Increasing Its Influence on American Life, by Subgroup
2019 Apr 2020 May 2021 Increase,
2019 to 2020
Decrease,
2020 to 2021
% % % pct. pts. pct. pts.
U.S. adults 19 38 16 +19 -22
Men 16 33 14 +17 -19
Women 21 43 18 +22 -25
White adults 17 37 13 +20 -24
Non-White adults 22 41 22 +19 -19
18-29 years old 20 40 19 +20 -21
30-49 years old 19 39 16 +20 -23
50-64 years old 19 39 15 +20 -24
65+ years old 15 34 16 +19 -18
College graduate 17 34 15 +17 -19
College nongraduate 19 40 17 +21 -23
Married 17 36 12 +19 -24
Not married 20 40 19 +20 -21
Children under 18 18 41 17 +23 -24
No children under 18 18 37 15 +19 -22
Republican 18 44 7 +26 -37
Independent 17 33 19 +16 -14
Democrat 21 37 20 +16 -17
Protestant 18 43 15 +25 -28
Catholic 19 35 19 +16 -16
No religion 20 31 13 +11 -18
Attend church weekly 23 46 21 +23 -25
Attend church monthly 18 43 13 +25 -30
Seldom/Never attend church 17 32 15 +15 -17
Figures for 2019 are based on an average of two surveys.
Â鶹´«Ã½AV

Perceptions of Religious Influence Near Record Low

Â鶹´«Ã½AV has asked Americans to say whether religion is becoming more influential for more than 60 years, including at least annually since 1997. The current 16% who see religion as increasing its influence is just two percentage points above the historical low point -- 14%, registered in 1969 and 1970 polls.

For most of the trend, less than a majority of Americans have said that religion is increasing its influence. One major exception came in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in late 2001, when a record-high 71% of U.S. adults thought religion was becoming more influential as the nation dealt with that crisis and threat to safety. The 32-point increase in 2001 before and after 9/11 is the only surge in Â鶹´«Ã½AV's trend bigger than the 19-point jump seen last year.

Line graph. In the more than 60 years Â鶹´«Ã½AV has asked Americans whether religion is increasing its influence on American life, there have been only a few instances in which at least half have agreed. These include 69% in 1957, 71% in 2001 and 50% in 2005. Currently, 16% say it is increasing its influence.

Bottom Line

Americans have long thought that religion is losing rather than increasing its influence on U.S. society, but those views eased last year as the U.S. dealt with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, with many Americans vaccinated against the disease and COVID-19 infections falling, U.S. public opinion on the influence of religion has returned to pre-pandemic levels, sitting just slightly above the historical low point.

These results come as more Americans attend church in person than did so a year ago, but at a time when reports of church attendance still lag behind what they were before the pandemic and remain lower than in previous decades. Additionally, the percentage of U.S. adults who belong to a formal place of worship has fallen below the majority level for the first time. With increasing numbers of U.S. adults, particularly young adults, lacking a religious affiliation, the likelihood of religion becoming more influential seems low. However, as Â鶹´«Ã½AV's trends show, in times of national crisis Americans perceive that religion is becoming more influential, at least temporarily.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

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