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Data published in 2024 by the Pew Research Center revealed that just 53% of Americans think that religion is “very important” in their lives.
A further 24% said that religion was “somewhat important” while 11% said it was “not too important” or “not important at all.” When broken down by religious group, Evangelical Protestants, Historically Black Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, all scored about 79%, that their religion was “very important.” Outside of these Christian-based groups, Muslims came next, with just 64% reporting that religion was “very important” in their daily lives. Hindus, Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, and Orthodox Christians reported under 52%. (TAKE A POLL: Should the Government Take Immediate Action to Curb Inflation, Even if it Means Higher Taxes?)
More Religious As Time Goes On?
Pew also found that a majority of immigrants who were third generation or higher were far more likely to be religious than those who moved to the country to start a new life on their own. Similarly, the more wealth one accrued, the less likely they were to place religion as a “very important” part of their lives. The same trend occurred amongst individuals who obtained a post-graduate degree. (TAKE A POLL: Do You Agree That Small Businesses Are the Backbone of Our Economy and Need More Support?)
What Does Religion Do?
A study published in 2024 by Young Life’s The RELATEProject further revealed that teens and young adults who were raised with faith report less stress than their secular counterparts. The survey looked at more than 7,000 young people (aged 13 through 24) from around the world. The researchers found that most desire “authentic relationships” with “no fuss and nothing formal.”
A Gallup and Radiant Foundation poll survey conducted in 2023 found a “strong association between religiosity and well-being” amongst a population of roughly 1.5 million people. The data suggested negative emotions (stress, anger, worry, and sadness) among all of us are at a decade-high. (TAKE A POLL: Will Traditional Colleges Become Obsolete Due to Online Learning?)
When polling between positive and negative experiences indexes, those with religious faith consistently scored higher than those without. They also scored lower on the negative index, and a smaller number is a better thing for these data.
How Do You Feel?
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