What Americans really think about religion’s place in politics

Church and State: A Divisive Balance

A striking new survey reveals that two-thirds of Americans—including majorities from both Democrats and Republicans—believe churches should avoid taking sides in political debates. Nearly 80% oppose churches endorsing specific political candidates, signaling broad resistance to mixing faith and politics at the pulpit.

Yet, at the same time, 37% of Americans say religion’s influence in the U.S. is growing—a sharp 19-point increase in just two years. Opinions on this trend are sharply polarized: half see it as a positive shift, while the other half view it with concern. Even more striking, more Americans believe a decline in religion’s role would be harmful rather than beneficial.

A Partisan Divide on Religion’s Influence

The survey exposes deep partisan and ideological fractures over religion’s expanding footprint:

• Republicans overwhelmingly support religion’s growing role (75% view it positively).
• Democrats are far more skeptical (less than 40% see it favorably).
• White evangelical Protestants stand out as the most vocal advocates for religion’s increased societal influence.

Should Christianity Be America’s Official Religion?

The idea of making Christianity the U.S. government’s official religion finds little support—only 17% favor it. Yet a plurality (43%) believes the government should promote Christian moral values without declaring an official religion, while 38% oppose both government-endorsed religion and Christian moral politics.

Attitudes toward "Christian nationalism"—a contentious concept linking faith and national identity—are similarly mixed. Three-quarters of Americans have an unfavorable view, yet most still lack strong convictions on the matter. Some critics argue the term is used to stifle patriotism or public displays of faith, while others note America’s founders included non-Christians despite its religious heritage.

The Church-State Debate: A Battle of Extremes?

A majority—52% of Americans—feel conservative Christians push their values too far in government and schools. An equal number say secular groups go too far in excluding religion from public life, while one in five believe both sides have overreached.

The tension isn’t new. Religious conservatives first mobilized politically in the 1980s, gaining clout by pushing for conservative judicial appointments—a strategy that helped sway key elections. Today, critics argue the line between church and state is blurring, with churches engaging more aggressively in political advocacy.

A Contrarian View: Faith Must Inform Politics

Not all agree that politics and religion should remain separate. One ministry leader argues that Christians shouldn’t compartmentalize their faith, insisting churches must help believers apply their beliefs to modern issues—even if most Americans oppose overtly political sermons. The leader adds that stronger churches could reduce the government’s burden in addressing social problems, shifting solutions back to faith-based communities.

As America grapples with these questions, one thing is clear: the debate over religion’s place in public life is far from settled.