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The percentage of Democrats who identify as religious has dropped more than 20 points between 1999 and 2023, a recent Gallup survey has found.
Gallup found that:
- 82% say they are religious, spiritual, or both.
- 18% say they are neither spiritual nor religious, up from 9% in 1999.
- The percentage saying they are religious is down from 54% in 1999.
It is the Democrats, by their own admission, that have lost their faith.
Republicans are holding fast to their faith.
Some thoughts on why this is happening in a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles and values.
Be Informed, not misled.
The falling away.
Gallup found that "Nearly half of Americans (47%) describe themselves as religious, another 33% say they are spiritual but not religious, and 2% volunteer they are 'both.' Although the vast majority of U.S. adults have one of these orientations toward the nonphysical world, the 18% who say they are neither religious nor spiritual is twice the proportion Gallup measured when it first asked this question in 1999. Over the same period, the percentage identifying as religious has declined by seven percentage points."
Generally, Gallup found that most Americans identify as "Religious" or "Spiritual."
However, "Democrats are far less likely than in the past to say they are religious," according to the newest survey.
Breitbart News notes, "When Gallup first polled on the topic in 1999, 60 percent of Democrats identified as religious, as did 62 percent of Republicans. Since then, the percentage of religious Democrats has fallen 23 points to 37 percent."
When Gallup first polled on the topic in 1999, 60 percent of Democrats identified as religious, as did 62 percent of Republicans. Since then, the percentage of religious Democrats has fallen 23 points to 37 percent.
At the same time, Democrats claim to have become more "spiritual."
And “there has been no meaningful change in Republicans’ self-identification as religious or spiritual,” and independents have only experienced a modest change. Sixty-one percent of Republicans identify as religious compared to 62 percent in 1999, and 28 percent say they are spiritual compared to 25 percent two decades ago.
Gallup Poll: The percentage of Democrats who identify as religious has dropped 23 points in two decades, while religious identification among Republicans and independents has stayed roughly the same.
— Katherine Hamilton (@thekat_hamilton) September 23, 2023
At the same time, Democrats have become more "spiritual," and the "neither"… pic.twitter.com/5ssmODBgDV
A closer look.
It's impossible to discern a person's heart: Only God knows the heart of every individual.
However, we can certainly look at a person's actions. "Their fruit," as Scripture says.
While most groups have declined in their interest in religion, conservatives (Republicans) and married adults have had essentially no change.
Similarly, a Wall Street Journal poll released in March found that while 49% of respondents say, “I know God really exists, and I have no doubts about it,” only 39 % say religion is “very important” to them.
Patriotism has seen a parallel decline with religion: 62% of Americans said religion was “very important” in 1998, a sentiment which tumbled down to 48% in 2019 before hitting this year’s low percentage.
This is quite the graphic https://t.co/ffcpRd10FR pic.twitter.com/gk9T3gM8qA
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) March 27, 2023
Broken down by political affiliation, Republicans (59%) are more likely than Democrats (23%) and independents (29%) to rank patriotism as a “very important” value.
Why?
"Gallup's bottom line:"
It is well-established that Americans are less religious than in the past. Still, the vast majority of Americans describe themselves as being either religious or spiritual. Some people who were formerly religious may have found nonreligious forms of spirituality to address their nonphysical needs, while others may have turned away from any type of spiritual or religious practice entirely. Being nonreligious and nonspiritual is most common among young adults; however, only about one in four young adults describe themselves this way. This suggests that in the future a diminished but still large majority of U.S. adults will have some religious or spiritual connection in their lives.
The "real" bottom line:
He told a recent gathering of Christian leadership, "Meetings like this are essential because the Church 'has been marginalized' and 'set aside' in the United States." He said that now "more than ever [the Christian] faith needs to take a stand."
He continued:
The Church has been viewed as something irrelevant. And listen, let's be honest. Much of that accusation against us is true. Somehow, the Church has gotten out of the lane of being the salt and light that God has called us to be.
Hibbs noted that he is "constantly labeled" as a "Christian nationalist."
I don't accept labels. I don't accept intimidation. I don't accept bullying," he said. "Did God bring this nation into existence? To deny that is to deny God's work and to deny God's history. The nation of this country of ours is history."
Do you want to be upset with me? I believe Jesus could come back tonight. I'm waiting for Him to return. But, if He doesn't return, I've got grandkids. And I've got to leave this nation in the right hands," Hibbs continued.
[You might say]: 'But, pastor, that's political.' Let's talk about that. Should pastors be into politics? Yes, especially if they're going to run for office. I know a lot of pastors that have run for office. Many of them have been elected. God bless them. But, let's remember something," Hibbs added.
God established His sacred institutions. Israel is one of them. The Church is one of them. Marriage is one of them. The family, right? And listen to this: according to your Bible, God established the government. Did you know that? He didn't invent politics. That's what man invented. When man doesn't want God involved in government, he turns it around, throws God out, and makes it political.
Giving an example of someone he believes is an elected leader who is operating without God's guidance and direction, Hibbs mentioned California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has been in office since 2019.
California is under attack. … The freeways are falling apart. We've got fentanyl and homelessness everywhere. And the state used to be one of the most iconic places on earth. But, [it has been] under a constant Democrat leadership of godlessness, hyper-driven on abortion," he said.
Throughout the 33 years Hibbs has been in pastoral leadership at his church, he said he has received pushback and criticism about his preaching on the idea of the importance of God playing a role in politically charged topics.
You can't talk about marriage because that's a political issue.' Really? I thought that was in my Bible. 'You can't talk about abortion because that's a political issue.' Really? I thought that was in my Bible. 'You can't talk about gender. It's a political issue.' Really? I thought that was in my Bible.
"Everything that you do as a human being and as an American is based in the Scripture. There is no place to set both aside. Jesus said to 'Go into all the world and preach this Gospel, the Good News.' Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Let's admit it. Our nation is a nation of sin, and we also are sinners," he continued.
"That's how we qualify for salvation, for crying out loud. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. … And this nation used to preach the cross. … Now, you raise Jesus in the public square, and you better have a helmet on. Why? We are a post-Christian nation, and we are starting to reap the detriment of that position. But how did we get here? We got here by being silent."
The pastor added that "all blame must be laid at the foot of the Church."
"When the pulpit waivers, the congregation waivers. When the congregation waivers, then the community waivers," he added. "Then evil fills the void. Then you wonder why in California there is a new majority that we have to deal with that constantly throws us against our faith, our freedom of worship to gather together."
"And then our governor said: 'all marijuana dispensaries are essential. Strip clubs are essential. All bars and liquor stores are essential," he added, referring to state shutdown mandates and designations amid the heightened stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Then, he shuts down other places and curtails Home Depot and other things like this. And he never answers about the church. He didn't mention the Church. The Church is not essential or non-essential. … The Church is transcendent. The Church is a living, breathing organism, born by the Holy Spirit, purchased by Jesus Christ and His blood."
Earlier in his sermon, Hibbs noted that the U.S. is living in "an age of fear" and an "age of worry."
"And yet, we as a nation, we should be, above all nations, able to take on fear because the founding of this nation was not upon some great government idea, was not upon some great political idea. Let's be honest. It was about the Pilgrim fathers crafting that Mayflower Compact of only … basically two paragraphs," he added.
"In those paragraphs of our nation's birth certificate, William Bradford and others wrote what the nation's purpose would be. ... They were announcing that to the shores. They had brought themselves to be ones who propagate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why they came."
Hibbs said, "History is full of the move of God," and it's vital for Christians to reflect on historical events to be inspired by servants of God who did the work that God blessed them with.
"Go back to 1605. When Pastor Hunt on the Massachusetts shores put up a tent from a broken sail from his ship he preached the Gospel to the natives. Who wants to talk about that?" Hibbs said.
It's time for the Church to rise and speak to the culture.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Bold. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.