The Religion Americans Want Is Not the Religion They Are Getting
A new Pew study shows confidence in religion rising even as trust in religious institutions stays cautious
In the span of two years, the share of Americans who believe religion is gaining influence in public life has more than doubled.
That sounds like a revival. It is not.
A new Pew Research Center survey finds that 37% of U.S. adults now say religion is gaining influence in American life, matching the highest level Pew has recorded since it began asking the question in 2002. Just two years ago, that number sat at 18%. What changed in that window was not a sudden national turn toward faith. What changed was perception, and perception is moving faster than belief itself.
