A new Gallup poll reveals that fewer Americans believe a more religious country would be a better one than did 13 years ago, with double digit declines among women and Americans under the age of 54.
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The poll released Tuesday found that the share of adults who believe greater religiosity would benefit the United States fell from 75 percent in 2013 to 65 percent today.
Most U.S. adults (65%) say it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious, although that is down from an even larger majority of 75% when Gallup last asked the question in 2013.
22% currently say greater religiosity would be negative for society, while the… pic.twitter.com/nZDN8AV4Z4
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The poll found that favorable views of religion among women fell 16 percentage points since 2013, compared with a 3-point decline among men. The share of young Americans who believe religion has a positive effect on society also dropped 16 points during the same period.
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In fact, the survey shows that most key demographic and political groups reflect a shrinking number of individuals who believe religion has a positive effect on society. Exceptions to this trend are Republicans, Catholics and those without a religious preference. On the other hand, the number of Protestant and Nondenominational Christians in America who believe the same has dropped from 88 percent to 81 percent.
According to Gallup, larger shares of Americans viewed religion as influential in the past, including in the initial measure in 1957 (69 percent) and for several years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks (including a record 71% in December 2001).
The most recent Gallup poll was conducted through phone interview by surveying a random sample of 1,001 adults from all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. between May 1-17.