University of Denver Fall 2023

“If people don’t trust that religious congregations are authentic and live their values, they won’t go into those spaces.”

– Marquisha Lawrence Scott, Assistant Professor, GSSW

America’s religious landscape is shifting. Large numbers of Americans have left the most prevalent religion in the U.S., Christianity, to join the growing ranks of those who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or religious “nones,” according to the Pew Research Center. In 2020, Pew Research

grown, partly due to immigration. Currently, 6% of the U.S. population adheres to other religions, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus

At the same time, many people are participating in online or individual religious practice rather than attending houses of worship.

In fact, according to a 2020 Gallup survey, Americans’ membership in houses of worship dropped below 50% for the first time in Gallup’s eight-decade study. The story of religion in America is multifaceted and complex. To learn more, we reached out to DU’s community of expert faculty

reported that 64% of Americans identify as Christian, down from

of Americans identify as Christian, d own from 90% in 1972

90% in 1972. This reflects a growing trend in religious disaffiliation over the past few decades.

and Buddhists, but that number is expected to grow. Atheists, agnostics and religious “nones” or “nothing in particular” now represent 30% of the population.

and alumni in religious studies, social work, psychology and Judaic studies about what they’re observing and their theories on what is contributing to these changes.

While Christianity is in decline, other religious affiliations have

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