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From Popularity to Decline: Why Christianity is Changing in America?
Christianity has become dominant in the United States. A 2023 Gallup poll showed that out of the 3.32 million people in the United States, about 67% believe in Christianity, which means there are about 2.24 million Christians. The majority of this group are Protestants (1.4 million, or 44%), while there are 70 million Roman Catholics in the United States, or 22%. In addition, there are other Christian denominations such as Latter-day Saints, Oriental Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Jehovah's Witnesses, which together account for about 13 million followers (4%).
The United States has the largest Christian community in the world, especially the largest evangelical Christian community, with approximately 2.1 million Christians according to 2021 statistics.
The roots of Christianity in the United States can be traced back to the European colonial period in the 16th and 17th centuries. At the same time, immigration has also accelerated the increase in the number of Christians. For about 40 years, many Americans have identified themselves as Christians under the influence of their families, and as the 2020 American Religious Census shows, the proportion of believers has remained around 70% during this period. It is worth noting that this proportion has dropped from 85% in 1990 to 65% in 2020.
Today, 62% of people say they are a member of a church, reflecting the pervasive influence of Christianity in American society.
Christianity can be divided into three major categories: Protestantism, Catholicism, and some smaller sects. According to a 2004 survey, 26.3% of evangelicals use it, while Catholics account for 17.5% and mainline Protestants account for 16%. This shows the trend of diversification of Christian beliefs and reflects the changes in American culture and society.
Trends in Protestantism
Within Protestantism, the distinction between evangelicals and mainline Protestants is becoming increasingly clear. According to statistics in 2010, the number of believers in evangelical churches reached 39,930,869, showing that this sect is gradually gaining greater influence. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, non-denominational and interdenominational churches have become the second largest Christian group, showing that believers' identification with denominations is changing.
Most evangelicals believe in the importance of personal conversion, the necessity of expressing the gospel, and a high regard for the authority of Scripture.
The status of mainstream Protestantism
Mainline Protestantism is one of the oldest Christian denominations in American history, often through immigrant groups. These include the Church of England, Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church and Lutheran Church. The followers of these sects are generally highly educated and wealthy, including many well-known business and political elites in the United States.
Research shows that 72% of American Nobel Prize winners are from a Christian background, especially Protestants.
The Development of Catholicism in America
The introduction of Catholicism began with the earliest European colonization activities, and the number of its believers has experienced many increases. Today, Catholics make up about 25% of the U.S. population. The Catholic Church also has a profound influence on the American education and medical systems and owns many universities and hospitals.
As of 2021, Catholic schools teach 2.7 million students and have approximately 230 colleges and universities across the country, 12 of which are ranked among the top 100 colleges and universities in the United States.
Orthodox and other denominations
In addition to the above-mentioned mainstream denominations, other denominations such as Eastern Orthodoxy and Armenia are also gradually growing in the United States, and their believers generally have better education levels and economic conditions. The existence of these communities increases the diversity of American religious culture.
Christians in the United States are facing significant changes over time, with the proportion of people without religious affiliation growing, which has led to continued concerns about the future status of Christianity in the United States. In such a pluralistic religious society, we should think about how to understand the relationship between faith and real life.
