Do you remember where you were when you first heard about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001? I was sitting in my first class of the morning, during my senior year of high school. (I hope this doesn’t make anyone feel old!) After 9/11, religious and non-religious Americans alike sought hope and answers in religion.
The first wave of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey took place in April 2001. This turned out to be a providential date, because the results of the survey were not biased by the rise in religious activity after 9/11. It also means that we can compare the pre-9/11 religious climate with the post-9/11 climate, since we conducted Wave 2 of the survey seven years after 9/11. As our country prepares for the 10th anniversary of this event, let’s take a look at worshipers’ opinions about religion in the U.S.—before and after September 11, 2001.
Signs of religious stability. Years after 9/11, religion is no more important to worshipers’ personal lives than it was before the Twin Towers fell. However, it continues to be very important for the vast majority of worshipers in the United States.
The events of September 11, 2001 did not change worshipers’ opinions about whether religion can solve societal problems. Nearly four out of five worshipers in 2001 and 2008 believe that religion can answer current problems.
Signs of religious change. Although most worshipers still consider religion both relevant and important personally, fewer believe that religion has a growing influence on American life. Before 9/11, half of all worshipers thought that religion was gaining influence on American life; yet by 2008, nearly half instead think that religion’s influence on American life is decreasing.
How can we account for the change in how worshipers perceive religion’s influence on American life? It seems unlikely that this change would be attributed to September 11, since our country became temporarily more religious following the terrorist attacks.
One possible explanation is that due to media coverage people are increasingly aware that religious affiliation and participation are declining in the United States (see David Briggs’ article in the Huffington Post for more about this religious decline).
A growing number of Americans do not claim a religious preference (labeled religious “nones”). Also, more people today consider themselves “spiritual, but not religious.” Those who are “spiritual, but not religious” tend to reject organized religion for a personally developed, constantly evolving spirituality.
Do you think religion’s influence on American life is increasing or decreasing? What gives you hope for America’s future religious landscape?
I thank thee that I am none of the wheels of power but I am one with the living creatures that are crushed by it.
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