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2. Views about religion in American society
Public split on proper influence of Bible on U.S. laws
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- 2. Views about religion in American society
- About seven-in-ten white evangelicals say the Bible should have more influence on U.S. laws than will of the people
- Public split on proper influence of Bible on U.S. laws
- Most do not cite additional reasons for Christianity’s growing influence
- Among Christians who think Christianity’s influence is growing, 55% say this reflects God’s intervention
- Among those who say Christianity’s impact is growing, half point to Trump administration giving renewed influence to Christians
- Some cite broad societal changes as a reason for Christianity’s decreasing influence
- Most Catholics, black Protestants, religious ‘nones’ cite misconduct by Christian leaders as major cause of Christianity’s declining influence
- Americans who say Christianity’s influence is declining cite growth in number of nonreligious people, misconduct by Christian leaders as key reasons
- More than half of U.S. Christians say Christianity’s influence on American life is decreasing, but a quarter think this is a temporary change
- Half of Americans say Christianity’s influence is declining in U.S.
- Roughly three-quarters of U.S. Jews see themselves as part of a religious minority group
- White evangelicals, Jews and atheists more likely than other groups to see conflict between their own religious beliefs and mainstream American culture