Christianity's Decline in America

Christianity’s decline in America has been a major cultural shift over the past few decades, but the story is more nuanced than a simple downward trend. Here's a breakdown of what’s happened and where things stand now:

Long-Term Decline

• In 2007, about 78% of U.S. adults identified as Christian.
• By 2024, that number dropped to 62%, marking a 16-point decline over 17 years.
• The biggest losses came from mainline Protestant denominations, which fell from 18% to 11%.
• Catholics and Evangelical Protestants also saw declines, though less steep.

Why the Decline Happened

• Generational replacement: Older, more religious generations are being succeeded by younger ones who are less religious in their views.
• Cultural shifts: Increased secularism, political polarization, and disillusionment with religious institutions have pushed many away from organized religion.
• Religious switching: Many Americans raised Christian have left the faith, often identifying as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”

Rise of the “Nones”

• The religiously unaffiliated now make up 29% of the U.S. population.
• This group includes atheists, agnostics, and spiritual-but-not-religious individuals.
• Their growth has slowed recently, suggesting a possible plateau.

Recent Stabilization

• Since 2019, Christianity’s share has hovered between 60% and 64%, indicating the decline may have bottomed out.  However, some reports suggest that by 2070, the number of Christians in the United States could decline to 35% - 40%.
• Daily prayer and monthly religious service attendance have also stabilized in recent years

Youth and the Future

• Only 46% of young adults (ages 18–24) identify as Christian, compared to 80% of seniors (74+).
• Younger generations are less likely to be raised in religious households and less likely to remain religious as they age.

Twenty and Our Legacy

• We don’t see our nation as blessed as it once was.
• We see this as a major concern for the future of the United States.
• The Bible is clear that we are to go out and witness to those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus.
• Our business case is to scale a business that can support reaching youth through action sports and giving them a place to learn about salvation.