Holding Fast at Meh – Dr. James Emery White
That seems to be the response most people have. According to a recent Gallup poll, fewer than half of Americans say religion is “very important” in their lives.
Figures from Gallup on attending a religious service paint a clear picture of steady decline, with 57% saying they rarely or never attend one. That’s up from 42% in 1992. And the “nones” keep growing, ticking up to their highest recorded level (24%) after holding steady for the last four years in the 21% to 22% range.
Gallup also found that the percentage of Black Americans who say religion is “very important” dropped a stunning 22 percentage points over the last two decades. Among men in general, the number who said religion was “very important” in their lives fell 8% over the last 20 years, and among women, there was a 15% drop.
Over the last several months I’ve written about the supposed “revival” happening in the U.S., one that is even more lauded as occurring in the U.K. (For reference, they are: “A Revival… or a Moment?,” “Gen Z Church Attendance” and “Year-End Lay of the Land.”) This is one more study revealing that, no matter how much we may wish otherwise,
… it just isn’t true.
James Emery White
Sources
Megan Brenan, “Americans’ Religious Engagement Holds at Lower Levels,” Gallup, March 3, 2026, read online.
Yonat Shimron, “Gallup Poll: Fewer Than Half of Americans Say Religion Is ‘Very Important’ In Their Lives,” Religion News Service, March 3, 2026, read online.
Related Article
Faith on the Rise: More Americans Say Religion Has a Positive Impact, Pew Finds
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James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.
Originally published March 09, 2026.
