Gallup: Drop in U.S. Religiosity Among Largest in World

[essentialsaltes]

The 17-point drop in the percentage of U.S. adults who say religion is an important part of their daily life — from 66% in 2015 to 49% today — ranks among the largest Gallup has recorded in any country over any 10-year period since 2007.

About half of Americans now say religion is not an important part of their daily life. They remain as divided on the question today as they were last year.

As religiosity has declined in the U.S., the gap between the U.S. and the global median has widened. The global median for religiosity has remained stable for nearly two decades, averaging 81% since 2007 and reaching 83% last year, the most current full-year data available.

At the same time, attitudes in the U.S. are drawing closer to those in other advanced economies.

U.S. Now Occupies Unique Spot in Global Religiosity​

 

[Oompa Loompa]

The 17-point drop in the percentage of U.S. adults who say religion is an important part of their daily life — from 66% in 2015 to 49% today — ranks among the largest Gallup has recorded in any country over any 10-year period since 2007.

About half of Americans now say religion is not an important part of their daily life. They remain as divided on the question today as they were last year.

As religiosity has declined in the U.S., the gap between the U.S. and the global median has widened. The global median for religiosity has remained stable for nearly two decades, averaging 81% since 2007 and reaching 83% last year, the most current full-year data available.

At the same time, attitudes in the U.S. are drawing closer to those in other advanced economies.

U.S. Now Occupies Unique Spot in Global Religiosity​

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Yes. A lot of people call themselves "Christian" but do not think following Christ is important. That is not new. They believe in Jesus, but do not follow Jesus.

 

[DaisyDay]

I don't know what to make of that.

For the Christian nationalists, when it comes to immigration, old Europe is probably less religious than South Americans, but South/Central Americans are the wrong sort of people (or so I hear tell). Otoh, after WWII, an awful lot of old Europeans went to Argentina, so maybe if South Africa doesn't produce enough workers for us, we can get them from there? Just musing....

 

[RileyG]

Yes. A lot of people call themselves "Christian" but do not think following Christ is important. That is not new. They believe in Jesus, but do not follow Jesus.

As in so called Sunday Christians? Then yes, I can agree. I think it depends how sincere they are or not- only God knows.

 

[RileyG]

I don't know what to make of that.

For the Christian nationalists, when it comes to immigration, old Europe is probably less religious than South Americans, but South/Central Americans are the wrong sort of people (or so I hear tell). Otoh, after WWII, an awful lot of old Europeans went to Argentina, so maybe if South Africa doesn't produce enough workers for us, we can get them from there? Just musing....

Is that when Italians and Germans went to Argentina?

 

[DaisyDay]

Is that when Italians and Germans went to Argentina?

That was the last wave.

 

[Bradskii]

Yes. A lot of people call themselves "Christian" but do not think following Christ is important. That is not new. They believe in Jesus, but do not follow Jesus.

Having been a member of this forum for a number of years I can only agree with you. But the point is not that there are a lot of people like that, but that the number is increasimg.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

The polls have been trending in this direction for a while now.

However, the distinction that needs to be noted is that there is a subtle difference between this question and "are you religious?"

The polling has showed a drop in that latter question too, and that more people are becoming "unaffiliated" or fellow atheists, which would certainly explain some of the drop with regards to this question.


But the question of "how important is religion to you?" could still decline even in people who still are believers.


For that subset of people, I think the answer is pretty straightforward.

Religion and religiosity doesn't provide the same social and political currency it once did.

The aspects of life that people tend to prioritize are the aspects that get them the things they want (in terms of social fabric, social dynamics, and policy) and put them in "elevated standing" in a community.

There was a time when religiosity got that for conservatives, but somewhere along the way (probably around the late-2000's to the early-2010's), someone merely being "very religious" and constantly appealing to "religious principles" to justify policy just wasn't that effective anymore.

You can see that pattern play out in terms of candidate selection. In the 80's during the Jerry Falwell "Moral Majority" era, it worked like gangbusters. Even up through Bush 2, it still worked. By the time it got to McCain, no so well, and for Romney, even less.

Fast forward to present day, the people conservatives have been rallying behind aren't traditionally religious by any stretch of the imagination.


To put it more directly... why would someone prioritize religiosity after back to back losses at the ballot box with "religion-approved" candidates?, when the candidate that got them more of what they wanted was a "Casino owning, vodka brand creating, swimsuit pageant operating, greedy narcissistic real-estate developer, former New Yorker democrat who swears and cheats on his 4 wives"?


The Republican relationship with religiosity does have some parallels with the Democratic relationship with free speech.

There was a time when the Democrats were the die-hard free speech types... it worked for a period of time, once it stopped getting political wins, they put it on the backburner and started prioritizing other things.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

As in so-called Sunday Christians? Then yes, I can agree. I think it depends on how sincere they are, or not - only God knows.

I would go as far as the Easter and Christmas Christians. Or people who never go to church or read their Bibles at all, but when asked, they will claim to be "Christian." I believe they are called "carnal Christians."

 

[Bradskii]

...the candidate that got them more of what they wanted was a "Casino owning, vodka brand creating, swimsuit pageant operating, greedy narcissistic real-estate developer, former New Yorker democrat who swears and cheats on his 4 wives"?

Just the sort of person that you would not invite around for dinner with the family. But... ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the man who represents your country to the rest of the world.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Having been a member of this forum for a number of years I can only agree with you. But the point is not that there are a lot of people like that, but that the number is increasing.

Yes. With the rise of moral and cultural relativism, people no longer see the value of religion. It is more like that of a bandwagon sports fan.

 

[Bradskii]

I would go as far as the Easter and Christmas Christians. Or people who never go to church or read their Bibles at all, but when asked, they will claim to be "Christian." I believe they are called "carnal Christians."

The thing is, I could present you with a dozen quotes from members, reworded so that you couldn't search for the people who posted them, and I guarantee that you couldn't tell from them whether someone was a Christian or not. In fact, you'd probably think most were not. And I'll bet the ones that you thought were not all go to church and read their bibles regularly. And quite possibly the ones you thought were are not regular church goers.

 

[Bradskii]

Yes. With the rise of moral and cultural relativism, people no longer see the value of religion.

It's a natural reaction when one accepts that other people have good reasons for holding different values. You start examining your own.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Just the sort of person that you would not invite around for dinner with the family. But... ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the man who represents your country to the rest of the world.

On that point, we may have some disagreement (at least on the implication and philosophy)

Many don't care how a president "represents me to the rest of the world". I have zero concern about whether or not people in Portugal thinks my president/governor/congressman is "cool".

I care about who gets me the policies and things I want domestically.

With Trump, it's a mixed bag (speaking personally). He does some things I like, and some things I hate.

I didn't personally vote for him, but how the rest of the world sees him on a personal level is of little consequence to me personally.

As a point of reference, if the rest of the world was "gun crazy" by the Aussie standards, but your PM stood by strict gun control in the name of public safety, would them looking bad in front of other nations make you want a more "pro-gun" Prime Minister?

 

[RileyG]

I would go as far as the Easter and Christmas Christians. Or people who never go to church or read their Bibles at all, but when asked, they will claim to be "Christian." I believe they are called "carnal Christians."

Yup. I know exactly what you’re talking about.

 

[Bradskii]

On that point, we may have some disagreement (at least on the implication and philosophy)

Many don't care how a president "represents me to the rest of the world".

I'm sure that you're aware of the book 'The Ugly American'. A quick description from wiki:

'The book depicts the failures of the U.S. diplomatic corps, whose insensitivity to local language, culture, and customs and refusal to integrate were in marked contrast to the polished abilities of Eastern Bloc (primarily Soviet) diplomacy and led to Communist diplomatic success overseas.'

But the term has hung in there as a stereotype of Americans abroad. Somewhat self centered, loud and ignorant of other cultures. As I say, it's a stereotype and not typical of many Americans I've encountered outside the US. But Trump is all those things and more. And I'd have to ask you, if you were overseas and some fellow American was embarrassing him or herself in some way then wouldn't you feel embarrassed yourself?

Imagine an American playing at Wimbledon and he's gracious in defeat and generous in victory. He plays hard but fair and wears his heart on his sleeve. If he wins, don't you feel a sense of pride? If he's an absolute jerk and throws his toys out of the pram every time he loses a point, abuses the umpire, the crowd, his opponent then isn't there a tendency to say 'Hey, I know this guy is a jerk. But we're not like that.'

If your president makes a speech to the UN and emphasises all that's great about the US and urges everyone else to look to the better angels of our nature, then isn't a sense of pride you'd feel? As opposed to him whinging about the escalator and insulting the leaders of other countries. Do you really mean to say you'd not be embarrassed? Isn't your reaction to again say 'Hey, I know this guy is a jerk. But we're not like that.'

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I'm sure that you're aware of the book 'The Ugly American'. A quick description from wiki:

'The book depicts the failures of the U.S. diplomatic corps, whose insensitivity to local language, culture, and customs and refusal to integrate were in marked contrast to the polished abilities of Eastern Bloc (primarily Soviet) diplomacy and led to Communist diplomatic success overseas.'

But the term has hung in there as a stereotype of Americans abroad. Somewhat self centered, loud and ignorant of other cultures. As I say, it's a stereotype and not typical of many Americans I've encountered outside the US. But Trump is all those things and more. And I'd have to ask you, if you were overseas and some fellow American was embarrassing him or herself in some way then wouldn't you feel embarrassed yourself?

Imagine an American playing at Wimbledon and he's gracious in defeat and generous in victory. He plays hard but fair and wears his heart on his sleeve. If he wins, don't you feel a sense of pride? If he's an absolute jerk and throws his toys out of the pram every time he loses a point, abuses the umpire, the crowd, his opponent then isn't there a tendency to say 'Hey, I know this guy is a jerk. But we're not like that.'

If your president makes a speech to the UN and emphasises all that's great about the US and urges everyone else to look to the better angels of our nature, then isn't a sense of pride you'd feel? As opposed to him whinging about the escalator and insulting the leaders of other countries. Do you really mean to say you'd not be embarrassed? Isn't your reaction to again say 'Hey, I know this guy is a jerk. But we're not like that.'

As harsh as it sounds...I really don't care.

I was a Ron Paul fan for a reason. ("You all do your own thing, I don't care, you're on your own, we won't interfere, but don't ask us to put national treasure towards it")

Every culture is self-centered, hence the reason why most of the critiques of the US are rooted in "they're not doing these same great things we're doing"

If you look at the average British critique of American culture, what are the talking points?

"They don't have universal healthcare" (like we do)
"They don't have gun control" (like we do)
etc...

Meh... I don't care.

I want my constitutional rights protected, and let me deal with the rest on my own....that's about it.

 

[Bradskii]

As harsh as it sounds...I really don't care.

That strikes me as somewhat of a problem. You really should. But...so be it. I'll be embarrassed on your behalf.

 

[Fervent]

I would go as far as the Easter and Christmas Christians. Or people who never go to church or read their Bibles at all, but when asked, they will claim to be "Christian." I believe they are called "carnal Christians."

All this time, I thought it was Carnival Christians...

 

[BCP1928]

All this time, I thought it was Carnival Christians...

That certainly sounds like more fun. Some of us seem to have forgotten that the Gospel was supposed to be good news