Summary in Seconds: Although Christian nationalism has become more prominent in American politics, the United States is simultaneously experiencing its fastest religious transformation in modern history. Nearly three in ten Americans now identify as religiously unaffiliated, church attendance has fallen sharply, and thousands of churches are closing each year. Rather than abandoning spirituality altogether, many people are seeking meaning through alternative sources such as social media, folk traditions, and AI-powered religious apps. This sweeping cultural shift is reshaping community life, political campaigns, and the nation’s religious identity, with little evidence that isolated reports of renewed church attendance are reversing the long-term decline of organized religion.
At a time when Christian nationalism is becoming increasingly visible in American politics, the country is simultaneously experiencing a very different religious transformation beneath the surface.
During President Donald Trump’s second term, prominent Christian nationalist voices have gained greater influence within the Republican Party. Idaho-based evangelical Christ Church [1], led by Pastor Doug Wilson [2]—who has argued that women should never have been granted the right to vote—has drawn attention because of its reported ties to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [3]. Vice President J.D. Vance [4] also recently declared at Turning Point USA’s [5] AmericaFirst convention [6] that the United States “always will be a Christian nation.”
That statement immediately sparked criticism from historians and political commentators, who pointed out that the Founding Fathers deliberately separated church and state. Thomas Jefferson [7] famously described the First Amendment [8] as creating “a wall of separation between church and state” in an 1802 letter.
Yet while Christian nationalism receives considerable media attention, a broader and more significant trend is unfolding across the country. According to a recent report by Axios[9], the United States is experiencing the fastest religious shift in its modern history—a movement many researchers describe as the “great unchurching” of America.
Rather than returning to organized religion, growing numbers of Americans are leaving it altogether.
The shift is remarkable not only because of its speed, but also because it is changing the nation’s social, political, and cultural landscape. Identity and belief are increasingly being shaped by nontraditional spiritual influences, including YouTube mystics, TikTok tarot readers [10], digital skeptics, folk saints, and even AI-powered prayer and counseling applications. This represents a profound transformation with important implications for civic identity, political persuasion, race relations, and the ability to govern a society with increasingly diverse moral viewpoints.
A Rapid Rise in the Religiously Unaffiliated
The numbers tell a striking story.
According to the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) [11], nearly three out of every ten American adults now identify as religiously unaffiliated—a 33 percent increase since 2013. Researchers describe this as one of the fastest religious changes in modern American history, and it is occurring across virtually every racial and ethnic group.
The trend is even more pronounced among younger Americans. Approximately 38 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 now identify as religiously unaffiliated, compared with 32 percent just over a decade ago.
Churches Continue to Close
The decline in religious participation is also visible in church attendance.
According to Gallup [12], about 57 percent of Americans now seldom or never attend religious services, up sharply from 40 percent in 2000.
The consequences are becoming increasingly apparent across the country. An estimated 15,000 churches are expected to close this year, while only a few thousand new churches are projected to open.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, experts estimated that churches were losing approximately 15 percent of their members over time, amounting to roughly 1.2 million Americans leaving churches each year. Many researchers believe that pace has accelerated since the pandemic.
As congregations shrink, thousands of church buildings have become difficult to maintain or sell. Many now sit vacant or abandoned, creating what some observers have called “church graveyards.”
The loss extends beyond religious worship. For generations, local churches served as gathering places for community meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous programs, voting precincts, charitable activities, and town halls. Their disappearance leaves noticeable gaps in many communities.
Political Consequences
America’s changing religious landscape is also reshaping politics.
Political strategists say religiously unaffiliated voters are generally harder to reach through traditional campaign methods. Instead of speaking to voters through churches or faith-based organizations, campaigns must find new ways to engage people who are often more skeptical of organized institutions.
Consultants estimate that reaching a religiously unaffiliated voter can cost more than three times as much as reaching a church-affiliated voter.
The shift is also changing the religious makeup of America’s two major political parties.
Within the Republican Party, white Christians remain the dominant group, while only a relatively small share of Republicans identify as religiously unaffiliated.
Among Democrats, however, Christians of color and religiously unaffiliated Americans now make up much larger portions of the party, creating a very different religious profile.
New Sources of Spirituality
Leaving organized religion does not necessarily mean abandoning spirituality.
Millions of Americans are turning to alternative sources of meaning and guidance. Popular YouTube channels devoted to mysticism and personal spirituality attract hundreds of thousands of followers. Videos featuring astronomer Carl Sagan [13] and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins [14] continue to draw millions of viewers interested in secular perspectives on religion.
Others embrace unofficial folk saints such as Santa Muerte [15] and Jesús Malverde [16], whose followings have expanded dramatically across the Americas.
Artificial intelligence has also entered the spiritual arena. AI-powered applications are increasingly being used for prayer, Bible study, spiritual guidance, and even confession. Some religious apps have already been downloaded tens of millions of times, reflecting the growing role technology is playing in personal faith.
Is There a Religious Revival?
Some conservative Christians have suggested that recent events—including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk [17]—could spark a religious revival, particularly among Generation Z.
Stories have circulated about young people returning to church after the tragedy, and some candlelight vigils have featured testimonies of renewed faith.
However, researchers caution against interpreting these isolated accounts as evidence of a nationwide movement.
Melissa Deckman [18], CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, says there is currently no broad academic evidence that the United States is experiencing a large-scale religious awakening. While some young adults are returning to church, those cases remain scattered and are far too limited to reverse the country’s long-term trend away from organized religion.
The Bottom Line
America’s religious landscape is undergoing a historic transformation.
Although religion continues to play an important role in public debate and political discourse, the broader trend points in the opposite direction. More Americans than ever are distancing themselves from organized religion while seeking meaning through a growing variety of spiritual, secular, and technological alternatives.
Whether this shift ultimately strengthens individual freedom, weakens community institutions, or simply reflects the evolution of American society remains an open question. What is clear is that the nation’s traditional religious map is rapidly disappearing, making this one of the most significant cultural changes in modern U.S. history.
This version reduces redundancy between the two source articles, improves transitions, presents the statistics in a more narrative style, and ends with a balanced editorial conclusion that invites reflection without advocating a political or religious viewpoint.
Notes
1. Christ Church (Moscow, Idaho)
Christ Church is an evangelical Reformed Christian church based in Moscow, Idaho. It was founded by Pastor Doug Wilson and has become well known for its conservative theology, advocacy of Christian nationalism, and influence through its associated schools, publishing ministry, and media.
2. Pastor Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson is an American evangelical pastor, author, and theologian who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. He is known for his conservative religious views, his writings on Christian culture, and his controversial positions on politics, gender roles, and education.
3. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is an American military veteran, television commentator, and politician who serves as the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Before entering government, he was widely known as a host on Fox News and for his advocacy of conservative political causes.
4. Vice President J. D. Vance
J. D. Vance is the Vice President of the United States and previously served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio. He gained national recognition through his bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, which explored the social and economic struggles of working-class America.
5. Turning Point USA (TPUSA)
Turning Point USA is a conservative nonprofit organization founded in 2012 to promote free markets, limited government, and conservative values among students and young adults. It organizes conferences, campus chapters, and political events across the United States.
6. America First Conference
The America First Conference is a political gathering that promotes the “America First” philosophy, emphasizing national sovereignty, border security, and prioritizing U.S. interests. The term reflects a broader political movement rather than a single permanent organization.
7. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. He strongly supported religious liberty and the separation of church and state.
8. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The First Amendment guarantees fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government. It also prohibits Congress from establishing an official religion or interfering with the free exercise of religion.
9. Axios
Axios is an American digital news organization founded in 2016 that focuses on politics, business, technology, and public policy. It is known for its concise reporting style, often called “Smart Brevity.”
10. Tarot Cards
Tarot cards are a deck of illustrated cards originally developed for card games in Europe but later became associated with fortune-telling and spiritual practices. Many people use them for personal reflection, while others believe they can provide insight into future events.
11. Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)
The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) is a nonprofit research organization that conducts surveys on religion, politics, culture, and public opinion in the United States. Its reports are widely cited by journalists, scholars, and policymakers.
12. Gallup
Gallup is an American analytics and polling company best known for measuring public opinion through scientific surveys. Its polling data are widely used to understand trends in politics, religion, economics, and social issues.
13. Astronomer Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, and science communicator who helped popularize astronomy through books and the television series Cosmos. He promoted scientific skepticism and encouraged the search for extraterrestrial life.
14. Evolutionary Biologist Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist and author best known for his work on evolutionary theory and his concept of the “selfish gene.” He is also widely recognized as a prominent advocate of atheism and secularism.
15. Santa Muerte (Holy Death)
Santa Muerte is a folk religious figure in Mexico depicted as a skeletal female saint associated with death. Although millions of devotees pray to her for protection, healing, or prosperity, she is not recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
16. Jesús Malverde
Jesús Malverde is a legendary Mexican folk figure often described as a bandit who helped the poor in the early twentieth century. Although his historical existence is uncertain, many people venerate him as a folk saint, particularly in northwestern Mexico.
17. Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk is an American conservative political activist and the founder of Turning Point USA. He is a prominent speaker and commentator who advocates conservative political and cultural positions.
18. Melissa Deckman
Melissa Deckman is an American political scientist and public opinion researcher specializing in religion, gender, and politics. She serves as the CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and frequently comments on trends in American religion and political behavior.
References
1. Contreras, Russell. “The Great Unchurching Of America.” Axios, 26 December, 2025.
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/26/great-unchurching-america-religiously-unaffiliated
2. Henderson, Alex. “US ‘Unchurching’ Marks The ‘Fastest Religious Shift In Modern History’.” msn, 26 December, 2025.