ABSTRACT
The Christian share of the US population is declining, while the number of US adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing, according to an extensive new survey by the Pew Research Center. While the drop in Christian affiliation is particularly pronounced among young adults, it is occurring among Americans of all ages. The Religious Landscape Studies were designed to fill the gap. Comparing two virtually identical surveys, conducted seven years apart, can bring important trends into sharp relief. In addition, the very large samples in both 2007 and 2014 included hundreds of interviews with people from small religious groups that account for just 1% or 2% of the US population. One of the most important factors in the declining share of Christians and the growth of the ‘nones” is generational replacement. As the Millennial generation enters adulthood, its members display much lower levels of religious affiliation, including less connection with Christian churches, than older generations.
