Many people in America seem to be leaving religion behind as they start to self identify more as agnostic, or not religious at all. According to a Pew Research Study done in February of 2023, the Center’s projections show Christians shrinking from 64% of Americans of all ages in 2020 to between 54% and 35% by 2070. (O’Reilly, 2023) The once believed idea that America was founded to be a Christian nation is slowly losing traction amongst many Americans today. The last great awakening, when it comes to religion, was with the Jesus movement in the 1970s, and we have not had any major awakenings since then. So why is a country founded on religious beliefs having a hard time retaining its beliefs in today's society? What is causing a mass exodus away from religion in a country that is known for its religious tolerance? Religion is an important part of society that many sociologists choose to study and dive deep into its meanings. Religion tells us how people see the world and if we want to know more about people then we need to also study religion and its importance in society. The decline of religion over the years has been noticeable enough that many sociologists have tried to figure out what the possible causes are.
Sociological Analysis
Structural Functionalism
The functionalist perspective thinks of society as a living organism in which each part of the organism contributes to its survival. (Schaefer,13) Talcott Parsons was a Harvard sociologist who was integral to the development of this theory. He was influenced by early sociology pioneers such as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Parsons saw society as a large network with lots of different parts and each of these parts were important and necessary to keep the network intact and working. Niklas Luhmann continued Parsons work later and added that if a part of the network was not necessary or did not contribute to society, it would not be passed on from generation to generation.
Family is one the biggest agents of socialization and the most important one. Religion is one of the many influences that is passed down for generations through family ties. Religious organizations stipulate certain traditional rights that may bring together all the members of an extended family, even if they never meet for any other reason. (Schaefer, 92) As we get older we might lose some of those influences which could also lead to losing one's faith, or we grab hold of this influence and make sure it is an integral part of our lives that we can then pass down to the next generation. Emile Durkheim wondered how society would be held together without religious bonds. Religion, whether it is Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, gives meaning and purpose to people’s lives. (Schaefer, 349)
When the world was temporarily shut down due to the Covid-19 virus, many people were not able to attend weekly church meetings, meet with a religious figure face-to-face, partake of religious ceremonies, and much more. They had to figure out how to keep their spirituality intact on their own and in the confines of their own home. Many people, myself included, realized that they did not need a physical space away from home to worship in and that they could still practice many of their religious beliefs without the help of others around them. Throughout most of the pandemic, about six-in-ten Americans have not taken part in religious services in any way. (Nortey, 2023) When the panic subsided and places of worship reopened many realized that they had been able to continue many of their daily religious practices even during the shut down. The religious network stayed intact in a sense but just some of the practices of religion were able to be accomplished on their own without a network of individuals. Many decided not to return when churches opened as they had learned how to retain their spirituality even during a massive shut down of the world.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theorists see the world a lot different than functionalists do. Instead of order and a network that keeps everything moving smoothly, they see chaos. Social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power or the allocation of resources. (Schaefer, 15) As America is growing more tolerant of other views besides the Christian one, we see more conflicts emerging when it comes to abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and other issues seen as more liberal or radical in the religious mindset. Conflict theorists see religion as a form of oppression that is not letting other views be expressed as freely as they should be.
While many conflict theorists saw religion as impeding social change in the past, today some see it as a source of support as well. This is mainly the opinion of those in poorer countries where they rely on their church and community more than ever which makes Karl Marx's stance that religion promotes social inequality even more true. Social inequality is attained when many large churches/denominations have excess amounts of wealth compared to their average churchgoer. The dominant religion reinforces the interests of those in power. (Schaefer, 352) Religion does influence social behavior as we can see with the lack of roles women have in churches, the many religious stances on gay rights, and the inequalities across the board.
As more individuals find their voice and are able to express their opinions without too much backlash we also see intolerance rising among those that are religious. Transgender rights have been in the news a lot as more trans people feel they can finally voice their feelings. Many religious denominations and individuals have openly spoken out against trans rights and many states that have a majority population that is religious have been creating new laws that limit healthcare and rights for individuals who belong to the trans community. A majority of White evangelical Protestants say society has gone too far in accepting people who are transgender, while religiously unaffiliated Americans are far more likely to say society has not gone far enough. (Lipka, 2022)
Symbolic Interactionism
The interactionist perspective sees society as a world filled with objects that are meaningful. These objects, or symbols, are extremely important for human connection and they are usually understood by everyone in society. When you see a cross, a star, or a crescent moon on top of a large building in America you assume this building is a church of some sorts. No one had to tell you this as you are usually able to come to that conclusion on your own. Religion is filled with symbolism, beliefs, rituals, and experiences that have meaning to a lot of people. As a symbolic interactionist you would look at the smaller details in people’s everyday lives when it comes to religion and how those small symbolic objects such as church attendance, prayers, communion, or singing hymns are sacred to those that believe in them and not sacred to others. Religious people who practice and use these symbols are thought to have meaning in their lives and promote positive changes in society.
On the other hand, being happy with the symbols you use in your daily life can also keep poor people poor as they contribute a portion of their income to their religion, believe and accept traditional gender roles they learn from their religious leaders, and create intolerance to those whose religious views may differ from their own. Karl Marx referred to religion as the “opiate of the masses” (Marx, 1964) making people happy with their lives no matter if they were living a good or bad one and usually attributing all of it to God’s plan as to why their life was poor or rich, happy or sad.
The first amendment says that America does not have an official religion but the symbols all throughout the government tell us otherwise. Civil religion, the merging of public life with sacred beliefs, has always been very prevalent in America as religion is found in inaugural speeches, the pledge of allegiance, the declaration of independence, and on our currency. Many state governments mention God or the divine and Christmas day is the only federal holiday that is also a religious holiday.
Social Exchange Theory
The social exchange theory has to do with human nature and relationships. The phrase “what’s in it for me” is usually associated with this theory as people tend to weigh rewards and punishments before engaging in anything. There is a strong relationship between religious behavior and rewards. We see the number of times we attend a church service each year for example as a way to measure our failure or success. If we want to be rewarded with feeling successful in life we need to make sure we follow all of the religious rules and regulations we put upon ourselves to see if we are truly religious and deserving of God’s love and admiration. Individuals who feel that the benefits of being involved in the church outweigh the costs are the ones most likely to contribute financially; those who feel that the costs are too great show less inclination to give. (Davidson, 1994)
To those who are religious, the things they hope to receive can be described as goods. The most valuable religious goods are other-wordly (i.e. goods believed to be received in some afterlife concept.) (Corcoran, 342) Since these goods are not seen and physical you would need to stay spiritually grounded in a world that seeks after instant gratification more often than not. One can decide that religion or spirituality is no longer worth it if they don’t receive any of the benefits in this life.
Those who have had religious experiences in their lives tend to hold onto their religious beliefs longer and stronger than those that have never experienced those. Even those who have witnessed these religious experiences happening to others and not themselves are more certain about their future and less likely to leave their faith behind. Being part of a community where people share similar religious beliefs to yourself helps you also remain more faithful as religion is all around you and discussed more on a daily basis. You share a connection with that community that is harder to break and separate from as you all usually value the same things. When one does leave their faith behind it is harder to feel connected to the community you once belonged to as you now see things usually drastically different.
Conclusion
The study of unbelief, irreligiosity, and atheism emerged in the sociology of religion during the 1960s. (Enstedt, 292) More people started to identify as atheist, agnostic, or un-religious and leaving religion behind became part of a larger trend from that time on because of mistrust in religious leaders and organizations. In researching religion from a sociological perspective four primary themes emerged. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, about half of the sample (51.8%) reported leaving for intellectual reasons or because they outgrew their faith. Roughly a fifth of the sample (21.9%) reported religious trauma, such as the hypocrisy of the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. Others (14.9%) reported leaving religion because of personal adversity, such as an inability to make sense of the tragic death of a child, or social reasons (11.4%), including a religious community’s being unwelcoming. (“APA”, 2023) Religion is still a very important part of many lives in America and will most likely continue to be so. Families will still pass down their religious beliefs to their children and hope they continue on the same path that they followed. Many people who leave a religion behind will still value the teachings they received from their parents, religious leaders, or community members and will continue to live their lives in many of the same ways they did while they were religious. I believe religion will always be a topic of study as each generation will see it slightly differently than the one that came before it.
References
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Losing my religion: Who walks away from their faith and why?. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-255#:~:text=Four%20primary%20themes%20emerged.,scandals%20in%20the%20Catholic%20Church
The functionalist perspective thinks of society as a living organism in which each part of the organism contributes to its survival. (Schaefer,13) Talcott Parsons was a Harvard sociologist who was integral to the development of this theory. He was influenced by early sociology pioneers such as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Parsons saw society as a large network with lots of different parts and each of these parts were important and necessary to keep the network intact and working. Niklas Luhmann continued Parsons work later and added that if a part of the network was not necessary or did not contribute to society, it would not be passed on from generation to generation.
Family is one the biggest agents of socialization and the most important one. Religion is one of the many influences that is passed down for generations through family ties. Religious organizations stipulate certain traditional rights that may bring together all the members of an extended family, even if they never meet for any other reason. (Schaefer, 92) As we get older we might lose some of those influences which could also lead to losing one's faith, or we grab hold of this influence and make sure it is an integral part of our lives that we can then pass down to the next generation. Emile Durkheim wondered how society would be held together without religious bonds. Religion, whether it is Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, gives meaning and purpose to people’s lives. (Schaefer, 349)
When the world was temporarily shut down due to the Covid-19 virus, many people were not able to attend weekly church meetings, meet with a religious figure face-to-face, partake of religious ceremonies, and much more. They had to figure out how to keep their spirituality intact on their own and in the confines of their own home. Many people, myself included, realized that they did not need a physical space away from home to worship in and that they could still practice many of their religious beliefs without the help of others around them. Throughout most of the pandemic, about six-in-ten Americans have not taken part in religious services in any way. (Nortey, 2023) When the panic subsided and places of worship reopened many realized that they had been able to continue many of their daily religious practices even during the shut down. The religious network stayed intact in a sense but just some of the practices of religion were able to be accomplished on their own without a network of individuals. Many decided not to return when churches opened as they had learned how to retain their spirituality even during a massive shut down of the world.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theorists see the world a lot different than functionalists do. Instead of order and a network that keeps everything moving smoothly, they see chaos. Social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between groups over power or the allocation of resources. (Schaefer, 15) As America is growing more tolerant of other views besides the Christian one, we see more conflicts emerging when it comes to abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and other issues seen as more liberal or radical in the religious mindset. Conflict theorists see religion as a form of oppression that is not letting other views be expressed as freely as they should be.
While many conflict theorists saw religion as impeding social change in the past, today some see it as a source of support as well. This is mainly the opinion of those in poorer countries where they rely on their church and community more than ever which makes Karl Marx's stance that religion promotes social inequality even more true. Social inequality is attained when many large churches/denominations have excess amounts of wealth compared to their average churchgoer. The dominant religion reinforces the interests of those in power. (Schaefer, 352) Religion does influence social behavior as we can see with the lack of roles women have in churches, the many religious stances on gay rights, and the inequalities across the board.
As more individuals find their voice and are able to express their opinions without too much backlash we also see intolerance rising among those that are religious. Transgender rights have been in the news a lot as more trans people feel they can finally voice their feelings. Many religious denominations and individuals have openly spoken out against trans rights and many states that have a majority population that is religious have been creating new laws that limit healthcare and rights for individuals who belong to the trans community. A majority of White evangelical Protestants say society has gone too far in accepting people who are transgender, while religiously unaffiliated Americans are far more likely to say society has not gone far enough. (Lipka, 2022)
Symbolic Interactionism
The interactionist perspective sees society as a world filled with objects that are meaningful. These objects, or symbols, are extremely important for human connection and they are usually understood by everyone in society. When you see a cross, a star, or a crescent moon on top of a large building in America you assume this building is a church of some sorts. No one had to tell you this as you are usually able to come to that conclusion on your own. Religion is filled with symbolism, beliefs, rituals, and experiences that have meaning to a lot of people. As a symbolic interactionist you would look at the smaller details in people’s everyday lives when it comes to religion and how those small symbolic objects such as church attendance, prayers, communion, or singing hymns are sacred to those that believe in them and not sacred to others. Religious people who practice and use these symbols are thought to have meaning in their lives and promote positive changes in society.
On the other hand, being happy with the symbols you use in your daily life can also keep poor people poor as they contribute a portion of their income to their religion, believe and accept traditional gender roles they learn from their religious leaders, and create intolerance to those whose religious views may differ from their own. Karl Marx referred to religion as the “opiate of the masses” (Marx, 1964) making people happy with their lives no matter if they were living a good or bad one and usually attributing all of it to God’s plan as to why their life was poor or rich, happy or sad.
The first amendment says that America does not have an official religion but the symbols all throughout the government tell us otherwise. Civil religion, the merging of public life with sacred beliefs, has always been very prevalent in America as religion is found in inaugural speeches, the pledge of allegiance, the declaration of independence, and on our currency. Many state governments mention God or the divine and Christmas day is the only federal holiday that is also a religious holiday.
Social Exchange Theory
The social exchange theory has to do with human nature and relationships. The phrase “what’s in it for me” is usually associated with this theory as people tend to weigh rewards and punishments before engaging in anything. There is a strong relationship between religious behavior and rewards. We see the number of times we attend a church service each year for example as a way to measure our failure or success. If we want to be rewarded with feeling successful in life we need to make sure we follow all of the religious rules and regulations we put upon ourselves to see if we are truly religious and deserving of God’s love and admiration. Individuals who feel that the benefits of being involved in the church outweigh the costs are the ones most likely to contribute financially; those who feel that the costs are too great show less inclination to give. (Davidson, 1994)
To those who are religious, the things they hope to receive can be described as goods. The most valuable religious goods are other-wordly (i.e. goods believed to be received in some afterlife concept.) (Corcoran, 342) Since these goods are not seen and physical you would need to stay spiritually grounded in a world that seeks after instant gratification more often than not. One can decide that religion or spirituality is no longer worth it if they don’t receive any of the benefits in this life.
Those who have had religious experiences in their lives tend to hold onto their religious beliefs longer and stronger than those that have never experienced those. Even those who have witnessed these religious experiences happening to others and not themselves are more certain about their future and less likely to leave their faith behind. Being part of a community where people share similar religious beliefs to yourself helps you also remain more faithful as religion is all around you and discussed more on a daily basis. You share a connection with that community that is harder to break and separate from as you all usually value the same things. When one does leave their faith behind it is harder to feel connected to the community you once belonged to as you now see things usually drastically different.
Conclusion
The study of unbelief, irreligiosity, and atheism emerged in the sociology of religion during the 1960s. (Enstedt, 292) More people started to identify as atheist, agnostic, or un-religious and leaving religion behind became part of a larger trend from that time on because of mistrust in religious leaders and organizations. In researching religion from a sociological perspective four primary themes emerged. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, about half of the sample (51.8%) reported leaving for intellectual reasons or because they outgrew their faith. Roughly a fifth of the sample (21.9%) reported religious trauma, such as the hypocrisy of the sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. Others (14.9%) reported leaving religion because of personal adversity, such as an inability to make sense of the tragic death of a child, or social reasons (11.4%), including a religious community’s being unwelcoming. (“APA”, 2023) Religion is still a very important part of many lives in America and will most likely continue to be so. Families will still pass down their religious beliefs to their children and hope they continue on the same path that they followed. Many people who leave a religion behind will still value the teachings they received from their parents, religious leaders, or community members and will continue to live their lives in many of the same ways they did while they were religious. I believe religion will always be a topic of study as each generation will see it slightly differently than the one that came before it.
References
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Losing my religion: Who walks away from their faith and why?. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-255#:~:text=Four%20primary%20themes%20emerged.,scandals%20in%20the%20Catholic%20Church
Corcoran, K. E. (2013). Divine exchanges: Applying social exchange theory to religious behavior. Rationality and Society, 25(3), 335–369. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043463113492306
Davidson, J. D., & Pyle, R. E. (1994). Passing the plate in affluent churches: Why some members give more than others. Review of Religious Research, 36(2), 181. https://doi.org/10.2307/3511408
Enstedt, D. (2019). Handbook of leaving religion. BRILL.
Lipka, M. (2022, July 7). Attitudes about transgender issues vary widely among Christians, religious “nones” in U.S. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/07/07/attitudes-about-transgender-issues-vary-widely-among-christians-religious-nones-in-u-s/
Marx, K. (1964). Karl Marx: Selected writings in sociology and social philosophy (T. B. Bottomore, Trans.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Nortey, J. (2023, March 28). How the pandemic has affected attendance at U.S. religious services. Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/03/28/how-the-pandemic-has-affected-attendance-at-u-s-religious-services/
O’Reilly, D. (2023, February 7). What is the future of religion in America?. The Pew Charitable Trusts.https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trust/archive/winter-2023/what-is-the-future-of-religion-in-america#:~:text=In%20all%20the%20scenarios%2C%20Christianity’s,%25%20and%2035%25%20by%202070.
Schaefer, R. T. (2020). Sociology in modules. McGraw-Hill Education.
[Paper written for SOC 1020 class UVU Spring 2023]
Amy Brouwer . 2024 . All Right Reserved
