Church leaders across the United States have been grappling with an unsettling trend: a steady decline in church attendance year after year. Data from the General Social Survey highlights this dramatic shift. In 1972, only 29% of American adults said they attended religious services no more than once or twice annually. By 2022, that figure had nearly doubled, with 57% of adults admitting to such infrequent attendance.
This sharp drop in regular churchgoers has understandably sparked considerable concern and anxiety among pastors. Many are struggling to maintain their congregations and sustain their churches amidst this significant reduction in both participation and financial contributions. Yet, despite the surge in the number of Americans who seldom or never attend church services and the record-high 30% of Americans who now claim no religious affiliation—a group commonly known as the “nones”—there remains an unexpected positive note that could offer encouragement to religious leaders.
Last spring, researchers conducted a broad survey involving more than 12,000 American adults without any formal religious affiliation. This effort was part of a project funded by the John Templeton Foundation and aimed to understand their attitudes toward religious institutions and explore their spiritual beliefs. Surprisingly, the survey found that most nonreligious Americans still hold onto several fundamental elements of religious belief.
When participants were questioned about their belief in God, only 22% of the nones said, “I don’t believe in God and I have no doubts.” Meanwhile, 27% of the nones described their stance as more agnostic. Remarkably, over half of those surveyed expressed belief in a higher power. This pattern of belief runs consistently throughout the findings: even though nonreligious individuals generally report lower levels of religious conviction compared to Protestants or Catholics, it is simply inaccurate to say they have entirely rejected the idea of a greater existence beyond themselves.
When further asked about their belief in the existence of heaven, only 28% of the nonreligious respondents stated that heaven definitely does not exist. Similarly, just 32% outright dismissed the notion of hell. Additionally, when posed with the statement “I believe spirits exist,” only 30% of the nones disagreed. These figures reveal that most nonreligious Americans still harbor spiritual inclinations, even if they no longer affiliate with organized religion.
In total, the percentage of nonreligious Americans who both hold an atheist view of God and categorically reject belief in heaven or hell is only about 16%. This small minority highlights an important point: while religious behaviors and official affiliations have undeniably plummeted over the past three decades, it does not follow that the United States has become a fully secular nation. Religious and spiritual beliefs remain a deeply ingrained part of American life, persisting even among those who intentionally distance themselves from traditional religious structures.
The common narrative among pastors and religious figures often laments the growing wave of secularism they perceive as sweeping across the country. However, the stories shared by the nonreligious themselves paint a far more complex picture. Rather than outright rejecting faith or spirituality, many nones seem to have adopted a more individualistic and personal approach to belief. They are exploring what it means to believe in something larger than themselves without necessarily subscribing to a particular denomination or faith tradition.
As Sunday morning approaches and many pews remain conspicuously empty of nones, it is crucial to recognize that most of them are not engaged in an active opposition to religious communities. Instead, they are individuals who feel uneasy labeling their spiritual beliefs within a framework that no longer fits the evolving religious diversity of American society. They remain open to questions about meaning, purpose, and existence, continuing to seek out answers in their own ways.
Overall, while the institution of organized religion may be struggling to retain its former levels of influence and participation, spirituality itself appears far from extinguished in American culture. There remains a substantial segment of the population that, even without formal religious ties, still believes in something greater than themselves—a hopeful sign for those concerned about the future of faith in America.