Americans aren’t quite sure what to think about God.
At least, that’s what new data shows. A recent survey found that only half of Americans now say they are sure God exists, down from 60 percent just a few years ago. And the number of people who say they never go to church has reached an all-time high.
The General Social Survey, conducted by the NORC at the University of Chicago, found that Americans’ view of God has shifted significantly within the last decade. But it’s not just a belief in God that’s changed. Church attendance has plummeted since the pandemic. In the meantime, there has been a growing trend of Americans who identify as non-religious. In 2020, a record 30 percent of Americans said they were not religiously affiliated.
This doesn’t mean that a majority of Americans are no longer spiritual. NORC found that atheists and agnostics each only account for 7 percent of the population. But it does show a major shift is happening in the American Church.
“The past three years were a period of great trial and change for the United States,” said René Bautista, director of the GSS. “Understanding how these times affected Americans’ thoughts, beliefs, and opinions is critical to understanding social change.”
