Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Why Americans Go (and Don’t Go) to Religious Services
Six-in-ten attenders go to religious services primarily to get closer to God
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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