45% of former Protestants say they left their childhood religion because they stopped believing in its teachings | Pew Research Center

December 10, 2025

Why some Americans have left Protestantism, while others stay or join

45% of former Protestants say they left their childhood religion because they stopped believing in its teachings

45% of former Protestants say they left their childhood religion because they stopped believing in its teachings

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45% of former Protestants say they left their childhood religion because they stopped believing in its teachings

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Why some Americans have left Protestantism, while others stay or join
32% of U.S. adults were raised Protestant and are still Protestant today
71% of Protestants say their belief in the religion’s teachings is an extremely or very important reason they are Protestant
45% of former Protestants say they left their childhood religion because they stopped believing in its teachings
51% of Americans who were raised in another religion but now identify as Protestants say they left their childhood religion because of unmet spiritual needs
81% of former Protestants who are now ‘nones’ say an important reason for the change is that they believe they can be moral without religion
72% of Americans who were raised Protestant and are still Protestant say they had a mostly positive experience with religion as children