More Americans Say Religion Is Gaining Public Influence, Pew Finds

November 7, 2025

A new study from Pew Research Center shows that faith is regaining prominence nationally as Americans’ perceptions of religion’s public role continue to shift.

Christianity Daily reports that the latest analysis from Pew, draws from two earlier surveys from early and mid-2025 that questioned nearly 18,500 adults about religion and public life.

In February of 2025, nearly a third of those adults surveyed (31%) said religion is re-emerging as a stronger force in American life. That’s an increase of nearly 18% from just a year earlier.

That represents the highest perceived religious influence in nearly 15 years.

Although 68% of respondents still believe religion’s influence is dwindling, that number is down from 80% in 2024, indicating movement toward a more favorable view of faith in the public square.

According to Christianity Daily, between 2019 and 2025, favorable views of religion’s role in society have been steadily rising with roughly six in ten Americans saying religion’s influence is good.

By contrast, Pew researchers say that 20% of those surveyed view religion negatively with another 21% saying they are either neutral or unsure.

Among Christians, White evangelical Protestants are the most positive with 92% expressing a favorable view of religion’s impact.

But that positivity dropped sharply among those who are religiously unaffiliated, with just 11% of agnostics and 6% of atheists expressing favorable views.

The breakdown along political lines showed that roughly 78% of Republicans or those who lean toward the GOP saying that they view religion’s public role positively compared to just 40% among Democrats and those who lean Democratically.

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