Only 47 percent of Americans say they’re a member of a church according to Gallup, the first time the number has ever dipped below half.
It’s a 23 point drop since 2000 and only 36 percent of Millennials report being members of a church. LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier projected membership numbers will continue to decline.
“This is going to have a dramatic impact on how churches see themselves and see themselves in relation to the world, and quite frankly how are they sustainable? Economically as well as viability,” said Pasquier.
Church membership peaked in the Gallup poll back in the late 40s.
The largest drop in membership among any subgroup was seen with Democrats, a 25 point drop since 2000. The decline in membership among Republicans was only 12 points.
“This poll does shine a light on the ongoing culture wars, which if you look at those culture wars they are both religious and political, it is difficult to disentangle the two,” said Pasquier.
Other groups seeing the biggest declines since 2000: Catholics at an 18 point drop compared to Protestants at nine points, non-college graduates at 22 points, and the unmarried at 22 points.
Only 60 percent of those who say they have a religious affiliation also report being members of a church, a 13 point drop since 2000.
“It is important to think about religious identification as something that can include church synagogue or mosque membership but does not require those affiliations,” said Pasquier.
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