Americans say religious institutions play positive roles, but most also see negative qualities | Pew Research Center

February 8, 2025

22. Religion’s role in public life

Americans say religious institutions play positive roles, but most also see negative qualities

Americans say religious institutions play positive roles, but most also see negative qualities

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Americans say religious institutions play positive roles, but most also see negative qualities

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22. Religion’s role in public life
44% of Americans think religion does more good than harm
Americans say religious institutions play positive roles, but most also see negative qualities
51% of Americans express mostly positive opinions about religious institutions, 29% mostly negative
Religiously unaffiliated adults are most likely to say religion does more harm than good in the U.S.
Most Americans agree that religious organizations do good things in society, but many also think religious organizations do some negative things
Overall balance of perceptions about religious institutions has shifted in the U.S.
Nearly half of evangelicals strongly favor the government declaring the U.S. a Christian nation
Most Christians favor allowing public school teachers to lead their classes in nonsectarian prayers; most others oppose the idea
About half of Americans support allowing religious displays on public property