“America’s Changing Religious Identity”, is a report that was published last week by the research organization Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), and concluded that white Christians were now a minority in America. The survey was based on “a huge sample of 101,000 Americans” from all 50 states. The results were interesting, but not surprising, considering current trends:
If we look at what the figures were a few years ago it puts things into perspective:
- In 1976, 80% of Americans were white Christians (55% of which were Protestants).
- In 1996, white Christians were two-thirds of the population.
- As the recent study found, in 2017, white Christians make up just 43% of the American population.
It’s not just white American Christians that are ‘disappearing’. America’s white majority has been slowly eroding due to Asian and Hispanic immigration, and the consolidation of already established immigrant populations. It is estimated that by 2042 white people will be a minority and by 2023 white under-18s will be a minority. Pew Research Centre projects that between 1965 and 2065, white people will have gone from 85% of the population to 46%.
Robert P Jones is the author of “The End of White Christian America”. According to him, the reason for this remarkably fast shift is twofold: Firstly he claims that fewer and fewer young people consider themselves ‘Christian’, and are no longer affiliating themselves with Christian churches. Two-thirds of white Christians are senior citizens, compared to only around a quarter of people 18-29 are. This trend has affected almost every Christian denomination with nearly 40% of young Americans saying they have no religious affiliation at all. Secondly, those faiths with the largest number of young members are non-Christian, namely Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. He claims the
The “youngest” faiths in America – those with the largest proportion of young adherents – are Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
With the white Christian grip becoming weaker and weaker, what will that mean for America, a country that has been shaped by Protestant persecution, as much as it has been shaped by progressive struggles championed by Protestant clergy.
Republican policies and priorities continue to reflect the values of white evangelicals: commitments to anti-abortion measures, condemnation of same-sex marriage, the wall and immigration crackdowns.
Democrats on the other hand, are considered to follow current trends and are seen as more diverse. They have been urged to reach out to Latinos by creating immigration reform. Latinos, African Americans, and other non-white groups are currently more loyal Democrats but this may not always be the case.
Reminding us how close the 2016 election was, Jones says, “sooner or later these demographic realities will show up” in national elections. He admits that we are seeing a lag but that by 2024 the changes will have become electorally decisive.
For Republicans this will create a big problem. When their white Christian base becomes smaller and smaller, what voice will drive policy then?
Source: The Guardian We’re at the end of white Christian America. What will that mean?
Louise Carter
