11 Religiosity
Between 1960 and 2010, white America became more secular, especially since the early 1990s, despite the belief that the working class is the most religious. The founders of the nation showed some hypocrisy regarding religion, as they attended church but were not genuinely devout. Today, there is less hypocrisy, but also a lack of deep thought about religion’s role in morality. Research indicates that religion significantly contributes to social capital, facilitating community involvement and civic skills. Furthermore, regular church attendance is linked to better physical and mental health, longer life expectancy, and overall happiness, highlighting the importance of examining American religiosity trends.
Secularization
Since 1960, American whites have become more secular, showing less involvement in religion across all socioeconomic classes. Throughout the early twentieth century until World War II, church membership and attendance lagged behind population growth. By 1940, only 37 percent of Americans attended services weekly, and nominal membership remained high. However, starting in the 1950s, both membership and attendance increased, peaking in the mid-1960s. The General Social Survey (GSS) indicated a decline in religiosity shortly after. By 1972, just 4 percent identified as nonbelievers, but this number rose significantly over the years, reaching 21 percent by 2010. A broader definition of secular individuals includes those who claim a religion but attend infrequently. By the late 2000s, over half of whites in some neighborhoods considered themselves disengaged from religion. Despite this decline, the percentage of actively religious whites remains higher than in many other developed countries.
Religious Involvement Among Believers
Among white believers who attend worship services more than once a year, about half reported a strong religious affiliation from the 1970s to the 2000s. However, their frequency of attending services has decreased in both Belmont and Fishtown neighborhoods. Despite this decline, the change is not very significant, as the attendance rates range from 40 percent to 65 percent. This indicates that while their attachment to their faith remains stable, their regular participation in worship has lowered over time.
Why the Discrepancy Between Conventional Wisdom and Reality?
There is a difference between what people commonly think and the actual data about religion in white working-class America. One reason is that the group in Belmont doesn’t fully represent all upper classes, as many academics and scientists are more religious than people assume. Another reason is the misunderstanding of rising fundamentalism; while more working-class believers call themselves fundamentalists now, the overall percentage of fundamentalists in that community has not changed much over time. Most people in Fishtown are still not fundamentalists, and this trend has been true for nearly forty years.
The Religious Core
Religion is an important source of social capital in communities. Many people who help with religious activities, like teaching Sunday school or organizing charity events, may not strictly believe in every part of their faith. A community needs around 25 to 30 percent of its population actively engaged in their church or synagogue to create strong social support. However, recent drops in participation, especially in Fishtown where it is now just 12 percent, make the religious group seem smaller and more unusual within the community.
Between 1960 and 2010, white America became more secular, especially since the early 1990s, despite the belief that the working class is the most religious. The founders of the nation showed some hypocrisy regarding religion, as they attended church but were not genuinely devout. Today, there is less hypocrisy, but also a lack of deep thought about religion’s role in morality. Research indicates that religion significantly contributes to social capital, facilitating community involvement and civic skills. Furthermore, regular church attendance is linked to better physical and mental health, longer life expectancy, and overall happiness, highlighting the importance of examining American religiosity trends.
Secularization
Since 1960, American whites have become more secular, showing less involvement in religion across all socioeconomic classes. Throughout the early twentieth century until World War II, church membership and attendance lagged behind population growth. By 1940, only 37 percent of Americans attended services weekly, and nominal membership remained high. However, starting in the 1950s, both membership and attendance increased, peaking in the mid-1960s. The General Social Survey (GSS) indicated a decline in religiosity shortly after. By 1972, just 4 percent identified as nonbelievers, but this number rose significantly over the years, reaching 21 percent by 2010. A broader definition of secular individuals includes those who claim a religion but attend infrequently. By the late 2000s, over half of whites in some neighborhoods considered themselves disengaged from religion. Despite this decline, the percentage of actively religious whites remains higher than in many other developed countries.
Religious Involvement Among Believers
Among white believers who attend worship services more than once a year, about half reported a strong religious affiliation from the 1970s to the 2000s. However, their frequency of attending services has decreased in both Belmont and Fishtown neighborhoods. Despite this decline, the change is not very significant, as the attendance rates range from 40 percent to 65 percent. This indicates that while their attachment to their faith remains stable, their regular participation in worship has lowered over time.
Why the Discrepancy Between Conventional Wisdom and Reality?
There is a difference between what people commonly think and the actual data about religion in white working-class America. One reason is that the group in Belmont doesn’t fully represent all upper classes, as many academics and scientists are more religious than people assume. Another reason is the misunderstanding of rising fundamentalism; while more working-class believers call themselves fundamentalists now, the overall percentage of fundamentalists in that community has not changed much over time. Most people in Fishtown are still not fundamentalists, and this trend has been true for nearly forty years.
The Religious Core
Religion is an important source of social capital in communities. Many people who help with religious activities, like teaching Sunday school or organizing charity events, may not strictly believe in every part of their faith. A community needs around 25 to 30 percent of its population actively engaged in their church or synagogue to create strong social support. However, recent drops in participation, especially in Fishtown where it is now just 12 percent, make the religious group seem smaller and more unusual within the community.