Americans’ attitudes toward religion are shifting in notable ways, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center. Between February 2024 and February 2025, the share of adults who say religion is gaining influence in American life rose sharply – from 18% to 31%. Although this remains a minority view, it marks the highest level in 15 years and reflects growing positivity toward religion’s place in society.
Just one year earlier, 80% of Americans said religion was losing influence, but that figure has now dropped to 68%. The trend spans demographic and political lines, with double-digit increases among Democrats, Republicans, and adults across every age category and major religious group.
When asked whether religion’s changing influence is a good or bad thing, a majority of respondents expressed positive feelings. Overall, 59% of US adults now view religion’s influence as a positive force – either believing it is growing and that this is good, or that it is declining and that this is bad. About 20% express a negative view, and 21% hold neutral or unclear positions.
Pew notes that the share of Americans with positive views of religion’s role in society has risen significantly since 2019, suggesting a broader cultural shift toward appreciation of religion’s influence, even as many still believe its prominence is fading.
The survey also finds a growing sense of cultural tension related to faith. In 2025, 58% of adults said they feel at least some conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream American culture—a jump of 10 percentage points since 2024 and 16 points since 2020.
This sentiment now represents a majority view across most religious and political groups. White evangelical Protestants are the most likely to report feeling at odds with mainstream culture, at 80%, but majorities of both Republicans (62%) and Democrats (55%) also share that sense of conflict.
The Pew report, based on surveys conducted in February and May 2025, also explores perceptions of Christianity’s influence and how religion intersects with patriotism and moral identity. Nearly half of Americans (48%) say Christianity’s influence in American life is decreasing, while 27% believe it is increasing and 24% say it is not changing much. Although still a minority view, the share who say Christianity’s influence is growing has risen from 19% in 2020 to 27% in 2025.
When asked what being Christian means to them, large majorities of respondents identified honesty, kindness, belief in God, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and helping those in need as essential traits. “Loving your country” ranked lower, with 29% of Christians saying it is essential, 47% calling it important but not essential, and 24% saying it is not important to being Christian. Among Jews, 22% said loving one’s country is essential to Jewish identity, while 46% said it is not important.
On the broader question of truth in religion, nearly half of Americans (48%) say many religions may be true. About one in four (26%) believe only one religion is true, while smaller shares say there is little (18%) or no truth (6%) in any religion. Among White evangelicals, a majority (62%) say only one religion is true, while Catholics and nonevangelical Protestants are more likely to say many religions may hold truth.
The Pew data suggest that while most Americans still see religion as losing influence, they are also more inclined than in recent years to view that influence positively. At the same time, more people report feeling a sense of tension between their beliefs and the broader culture, an indication that religion’s role in public life continues to evolve in complex and sometimes contradictory ways.
