Holding Fast at Meh

Dr. James Emery White

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By Dr. James Emery White, Crosswalk.com

“Religion? Meh.”

That seems to be the response most people have. According to a recent Gallup poll, fewer than half of Americans say religion is “very important” in their lives.

Figures from Gallup on attending a religious service paint a clear picture of steady decline, with 57% saying they rarely or never attend one. That’s up from 42% in 1992. And the “nones” keep growing, ticking up to their highest recorded level (24%) after holding steady for the last four years in the 21% to 22% range.

Gallup also found that the percentage of Black Americans who say religion is “very important” dropped a stunning 22 percentage points over the last two decades. Among men in general, the number who said religion was “very important” in their lives fell 8% over the last 20 years, and among women, there was a 15% drop.

Over the last several months I’ve written about the supposed “revival” happening in the U.S., one that is even more lauded as occurring in the U.K. (For reference, they are: “A Revival… or a Moment?,” “Gen Z Church Attendance” and “Year-End Lay of the Land.”) This is one more study revealing that, no matter how much we may wish otherwise,

... it just isn’t true.

James Emery White

Sources

Megan Brenan, “Americans’ Religious Engagement Holds at Lower Levels,” Gallup, March 3, 2026, read online.

Yonat Shimron, “Gallup Poll: Fewer Than Half of Americans Say Religion Is ‘Very Important’ In Their Lives,” Religion News Service, March 3, 2026, read online.

Faith on the Rise: More Americans Say Religion Has a Positive Impact, Pew Finds

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.