10 facts about religion and government in the United States
Here are key findings from our research on the relationship between religion and government in the U.S. and Americans’ views on the issue.
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In U.S., Far More Support Than Oppose Separation of Church and State
Some Americans clearly long for a more avowedly religious and explicitly Christian country, a March survey finds. However, a clear majority of Americans do not accept these views.
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Key findings about restrictions on religion around the world in 2019
Social hostilities around the world involving religion declined in 2019 to the lowest level in five years.
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Biden is only the second Catholic president, but nearly all have been Christians
Although Catholicism has long been one of the largest U.S. religious groups, John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden are the only Catholic presidents.
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Faith on the Hill
When it comes to religious affiliation, the 117th U.S. Congress looks similar to the previous Congress but quite different from Americans overall.
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White evangelicals among groups with slipping confidence in Trump’s handling of COVID-19
White evangelical Protestants are slightly less positive about the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic now than in March.
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More Americans say Trump administration has helped evangelicals than other groups
President Trump has called himself a defender of religious liberty. But how do Americans see his administration’s effect on religious groups?
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Most states have religious exemptions to COVID-19 social distancing rules
Only 10 states are preventing in-person religious gatherings in any form, according to our analysis of recent state-level regulations.
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Half of Americans say Bible should influence U.S. laws, including 28% who favor it over the will of the people
About half of Americans say the Bible should have at least “some” influence on U.S. laws; 23% say it should have “a great deal” of influence.
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Most Americans don’t see Trump as religious; fewer than half say they think he’s Christian
A majority of Americans say Trump is “not too” or “not at all” religious. Half either say they’re not sure what his religion is or that he has none.
