U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time

Gallup ^ | 3/29/21 | Jeffrey M. Jones

[marshmallow]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans' membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup's eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.

U.S. church membership was 73% when Gallup first measured it in 1937 and remained near 70% for the next six decades, before beginning a steady decline around the turn of the 21st century.

As many Americans celebrate Easter and Passover this week, Gallup updates a 2019 analysis that examined the decline in church membership over the past 20 years.

Gallup asks Americans a battery of questions on their religious attitudes and practices twice each year. The following analysis of declines in church membership relies on three-year aggregates from 1998-2000 (when church membership averaged 69%), 2008-2010 (62%), and 2018-2020 (49%). The aggregates allow for reliable estimates by subgroup, with each three-year period consisting of data from more than 6,000 U.S. adults.

Decline in Membership Tied to Increase in Lack of Religious Affiliation

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.

As would be expected, Americans without a religious preference are highly unlikely to belong to a church, synagogue or mosque, although a small proportion -- 4% in the 2018-2020 data -- say they do. That figure is down from 10% between 1998 and 2000.

Given the nearly perfect alignment between not having a religious preference and not belonging to a church, the 13-percentage-point increase in no religious...........

[fieldmarshaldj]

All according to plan from a sick and evil culture and even sicker and more evil puppet regime Stalinazi Satanist government.

[crz]

When the establishment churches fail to treat morality as a sin then whats to expect.

Then many of the TV scammers continue to flout their wealth..

[crz]

Immorality as a sin..

[Third Wheel]

“... fail to treat morality as a sin...”

I think you meant to say “immorality”, which I agree with. I left the ELCA when it started to ordain openly gay pastors and blessing same sex marriage.

[frogjerk]

We take our shrinking religious liberties for granted in this country. Many bishops and pastors have let us down. They are so worried about our bodily health that they abdicated their responsibility of their primary mission, to save souls.

Good Friday is tomorrow. Things were so bleak for the Apostles and Disciples

No cross, no crown.

Then the Resurrection when it all changed.

Trust in the LORD.

[Salvavida]

This is an individual decision, largely placed on MALES to lead. The government doesn’t have anything to do with it.

You either follow Christ, or you don’t.

Jesus said the way would be narrow, so it’s not surprising.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Nihilism is preached in schools, in entertainment, in news and sadly, in some churches. And people have accepted it as truth. Which is rather ironic.

So why would you take time out to participate in meaningless rituals in a meaningless country in a meaningless world?

[Kevmo]

Because of COVID. Much of what’s going on with that debacle is spiritual warfare.

[fieldmarshaldj]

You’re partly correct, but our government has been working hard to separate the people from Christianity for a good part of the last century and with outrageous and unconstitutional rulings from the courts (ridding schools of prayer).

[Salvavida]

There is no obstacle for anyone to go to church. But less than 13% of Americans will go to church in the broadest definition of church. A Bible can be had for free by any church or ministry or can be viewed for free on the internet.

The government isn’t the obstacle, it is the evil in the hearts of men that decided to follow the course of this world.

[thescourged1]

Absolutely.

COVID and the resulting lockdowns and crazy edicts devastated many churches. I know of one that it's regular membership still hasn't fully returned yet...and it may not.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I disagree. Many governments have been actively working to disassociate their people from Christian values. Look at the past year where out-of-control “leaders” were preventing people from even GOING to church in the name of “protecting” them from getting the China Flu.

[txeagle]

I was already quietly rebelling against the ever-increasing prosperity and feminist doctrine creeping into sermons.

Then came COVID with its attendance lotteries and pleas for singles to stay home to make room for families.

Message received. This second-class christian hasn’t darkened a church doorway since.

[100American]

Polls and Trolls, sickening the infestation here by wing nut posts like this from Gallup

[Mom MD]

Hopefully you found a biblical church to join. The LCMS is a great option

[Mom MD]

I hope you find a church to join. There are many biblical churches left you just have to find one

[caww]

The condition of the church leaves much to be desired today. It's a commercialized entertainment arena and lacks anything resembling worship....it's pretty bad when they hand out ear plugs as you enter!

[caww]

Have you been the route of finding a solid church today? .....I don’t agree there are ‘many’ Biblical Churches today.

[Mom MD]

No need for me to hunt, the one I have belonged to since childhood has so far held the line. I have many friends that belong to solid churches as well. I agree the great falling away has started but there are still islands of Truth to be found