Axios Highlights Growing Religious Disaffiliation in the United States

Axios Highlights Growing Religious Disaffiliation in the United States
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The United States is experiencing a significant shift in its religious landscape, with a growing number of Americans identifying as religiously unaffiliated, particularly among younger generations, according to a report by Axios. This trend has emerged alongside the widespread closure of churches across the country.

Axios notes that the change reflects more than a decline in religious participation, pointing instead to a broader transformation in personal identity and social values. Researchers describe the development as one of the most rapid religious realignments in modern American history, with potential long-term effects on society and politics.

Data from the Public Religion Research Institute show that roughly 30 percent of U.S. adults now describe themselves as having no religious affiliation, representing a rise of about one-third since 2013. Among Americans aged 18 to 29, nearly four in ten fall into this category.

Attendance at religious services has also dropped sharply. Gallup figures indicate that 57 percent of Americans rarely or never attend religious gatherings, compared with 40 percent at the turn of the century. In parallel, an estimated 15,000 churches are expected to close this year, marking a record high.

The shift is reshaping the political landscape as well. Analysts say engaging unaffiliated voters is more costly than mobilizing religious voters, and clear partisan differences have emerged. Unaffiliated Americans make up a larger share of Democratic voters, while white Christians remain dominant within the Republican Party.

As traditional religious institutions decline, new forms of spiritual expression are gaining traction. Digital platforms, online content creators, and artificial intelligence-based applications are increasingly filling roles once held by churches. Observers say the transformation is still unfolding but is likely to have a deep and lasting influence on American culture, politics, and collective identity.