For the first time in nearly 80 years, since records were being kept, America’s house of worship attendance fell below 50%, with 47% of people in 2020 reporting that they attended a church mosque or synagogue, according to a recent Gallup poll.
“U.S. church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades.” This includes a 70% participation level only 20 years ago, in 1999.
“The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no religious preference. Over the past two decades, the percentage of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998-2000 to 13% in 2008-2010 and 21% over the past three years.”
Naturally, older age groups tend to have more participation, with younger groups representing the biggest drops, where 31% of millennials and 33% of Generation Z claim to have no religious affiliation.
And while every age group is sliding, there are some that are affected more than others.
“Declines in church membership are proportionately smaller among [protestants], political conservatives, Republicans, married adults and college graduates. These groups tend to have among the highest rates of church membership.”
The group with the fastest church attendance drops are progressive, mainline denominations, and Democrats. This makes sense, as they ought not to feel comfortable attending a biblical church where the Word is preached faithfully, and the United Episcopalian Church down the street with the rainbow flag in its window that is led by a woman minister with purple vestments and a short haircut, has nothing to offer anyone- least of all the 30 or some women over the age of 70 that attend, and hence are dying at a rapid rate.
