More than four-in-ten U.S. adults say the country should be a ‘Christian nation,’ but far fewer want churches to endorse candidates, speak out on politics

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October 24, 2022

45% of Americans Say U.S. Should Be a ‘Christian Nation’

More than four-in-ten U.S. adults say the country should be a ‘Christian nation,’ but far fewer want churches to endorse candidates, speak out on politics

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More than four-in-ten U.S. adults say the country should be a ‘Christian nation,’ but far fewer want churches to endorse candidates, speak out on politics

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45% of Americans Say U.S. Should Be a ‘Christian Nation’
Many Americans who say U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’ do not want the federal government to declare it officially
Among those who want U.S. to be a ‘Christian nation,’ upward of half say Bible should influence U.S. laws and take precedence over the will of the people
Those who say U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’ divided about the impact of religious diversity
What does the phrase ‘Christian nation’ mean to you?
More than half of U.S. adults have heard nothing at all about ‘Christian nationalism’
About a third of Americans now say Supreme Court is friendly to religion
Three-quarters of U.S. adults say religion is losing influence in American life
Over past year, no increase in share of people in any religious category who feel their side has been winning on political issues; all groups feel they are losing
Republicans and Democrats agree that the GOP is ‘friendly’ toward religion; no similar consensus about Democratic Party
Most Democrats say Biden administration is ‘neutral’ toward religion; most Republicans say it is ‘unfriendly’
Six-in-ten Christians say U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’
A third of U.S. Christians see patriotism as essential to their Christian identity; far more see belief in God, moral life, relationship with Jesus as essential
Roughly four-in-ten U.S. adults say churches and religious organizations have too much political influence
Americans three times as likely to say religion is losing than gaining influence
On balance, more Americans express a positive than a negative view about religion
Slim majority of Christians say life has become harder in U.S. for people who have strong religious faith
Roughly four-in-ten U.S. adults say religious organizations have too much political influence
Roughly four-in-ten U.S. adults say religious organizations have too much political influence
Most White evangelicals, Black Protestants say Bible should have at least some influence on U.S. laws
Roughly a quarter of U.S. adults say that the Bible should have more influence over U.S. laws than the will of the people if the two conflict
Most atheists, agnostics now say Supreme Court is friendly to religion; Christians less convinced
Across religious groups, most agree Supreme Court justices should keep their own religious views out of their decisions
More Americans say recent Supreme Court decisions have hurt rather than helped nonreligious people
Most religious ‘nones’ say recent Supreme Court decisions have hurt women’s interests
More than four-in-ten Americans think the U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’
Americans with different views on whether the U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’ generally have different ideas of what the term means
Upward of half of Americans are unfamiliar with ‘Christian nationalism’
Roughly a quarter of all Americans have an unfavorable view of ‘Christian nationalism’
Most common descriptions of ‘Christian nationalism’ involve Christianity playing a dominant and institutionalized role in society
American Trends Panel recruitment surveys
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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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