Faith and Politics: How America's Religious Views Are Shifting

In recent years, a growing number of Americans feel that religion is making a comeback in their country. This change seems to be connected to political events, especially the rise of President Donald Trump and his party's policies. Both Trump and the Republicans have openly backed religious values, like encouraging prayer in schools. This isn't just a random observation. Other surveys, including those by Gallup, have spotted this trend too. The percentage of adults who think religion is becoming more powerful has gone up from 20% to 34% in just one year. For a long time, many people believed religion was losing its hold on American society. Surveys showed fewer people were joining religious groups. But around 2023-2024, this trend started to slow down. Now, it looks like religion might be making a comeback, with more people noticing its influence. Looking at the numbers, in February 2024, only 18% of adults thought religion was gaining influence—that was the lowest in two decades. But just a year later, that number shot up to 31%, the highest in 15 years. Even though most Americans still think religion's role is shrinking, the number of people who hold that view has dropped from 80% to 68% in just a year.This change isn't just about how people feel. More Americans now have a positive view of religion's influence. In 2022, 49% saw religion positively, but by 2025, that number rose to 59%. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to view religion positively, which might explain some of this shift. But it's not all good news for religious groups. Many Americans still feel a clash between their religious beliefs and mainstream culture. In 2025, 58% said there's a great deal or some conflict. Experts think politics plays a big role in these changing views. When Republicans win national elections, religion often seems more prominent. This was seen during George W. Bush's presidency and now with Trump's administration. Republican leaders tend to support issues important to evangelical Christians and Catholics, while Democrats often discuss their goals in secular terms. The data comes from Pew Research Center's American Trends Panel, with thousands of Americans sharing their views. It's clear that Americans are paying attention to how politics and religion mix, and this awareness shapes their perceptions.