According to a recent Gallup Poll, a majority of Americans believe religion is losing influence in America. However, the same poll found a majority of Americans–even a large percentage of people who self-identified as not particularly religious–believe America would be better off if Americans were more religious.
Overall, more than 70% of survey respondents said they believe religion is losing influence in America. Interestingly, 80% of conservatives believe religion is losing influence, while only 70% of liberals believe this to be so. In other words, conservatives are much more likely than liberals to believe religion is on the decline.
Perhaps the most interesting finding in the survey, however, came from a separate question, “If more Americans were religious, would that be positive or negative for American society?”
The overwhelming majority (75%) said it would be positive if more Americans were religious.
94% of people who attend church weekly said it would be positive. No surprise there.
However, 31% of people who claimed religion was not very important still said it would be positive if more Americans were religious, and 58% of people who said they attend church less than weekly or monthly still said more religion would be good for America. Even people who are not particularly religious can see some of the benefits religion offers society.
The bottom line: While most Americans see religion as losing influence, they do not by any stretch of the imagination believe that is a good thing. Pastors and churches should be encouraged by these findings, and lawmakers should take note that America’s value for traditional principles is far from gone.
