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July 31, 2018

Why Americans Go (and Don’t Go) to Religious Services

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Why Americans Go (and Don’t Go) to Religious Services
Top reasons U.S. adults give for choosing to attend or not attend religious services
Americans who give reasons other than nonbelief for eschewing religious services are fairly religious
Americans who do not attend religious services due to lack of belief are younger, more highly educated, largely male and Democratic
Among those who rarely attend religious services, nearly four-in-ten say they don’t go because they practice their faith in other ways
Relationship with God, moral foundation for children, self-improvement and comfort in tough times are among key reasons people go to religious services
Six-in-ten attenders go to religious services primarily to get closer to God
Among those who rarely attend church, Christians name a variety of reasons
Many of those who avoid religious services for reasons other than lack of faith are at least somewhat religious
Those who don’t attend religious services because they do not believe are more highly educated than other groups, predominantly male and Democratic
Many non-attenders cite multiple reasons for not going to religious services
Among churchgoers, large majorities across Christian traditions, demographic groups go to religious services to become closer to God
Among regular attenders, most experience God’s presence, sense of community and connection to tradition while at services

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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