Ryan Burge
@ryanburge.bsky.social
Teach at EIU | Research Director: For Faith Counts | Books: The Nones & 20 Myths | Pastor: ABCUSA | Graphs about Religion
"If you say you are a Christian who never attends church, you might as well be an atheist."
That may be valid from a theological perspective.
But politically, those two groups are worlds apart.
63% of never attending Protestants voted for Trump.
It was 11% of atheists.
That may be valid from a theological perspective.
But politically, those two groups are worlds apart.
63% of never attending Protestants voted for Trump.
It was 11% of atheists.
June 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
"If you say you are a Christian who never attends church, you might as well be an atheist."
That may be valid from a theological perspective.
But politically, those two groups are worlds apart.
63% of never attending Protestants voted for Trump.
It was 11% of atheists.
That may be valid from a theological perspective.
But politically, those two groups are worlds apart.
63% of never attending Protestants voted for Trump.
It was 11% of atheists.
"Homosexual couples should the right to marry one another."
Share agreeing in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
Democrats:
77% -> 79% -> 82% -> 78%
Independents:
62% -> 58% -> 66% ->68%
Republicans:
58% -> 46% -> 51% -> 46%
Share agreeing in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
Democrats:
77% -> 79% -> 82% -> 78%
Independents:
62% -> 58% -> 66% ->68%
Republicans:
58% -> 46% -> 51% -> 46%
June 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
"Homosexual couples should the right to marry one another."
Share agreeing in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
Democrats:
77% -> 79% -> 82% -> 78%
Independents:
62% -> 58% -> 66% ->68%
Republicans:
58% -> 46% -> 51% -> 46%
Share agreeing in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024
Democrats:
77% -> 79% -> 82% -> 78%
Independents:
62% -> 58% -> 66% ->68%
Republicans:
58% -> 46% -> 51% -> 46%
Always helpful to see how large (or small) a bunch of religious denominations/groups are.
This data is compiled by me from a bunch of disparate sources all over the internet.
There should be some type of universal reporting system for this.
So, someone get on it.
This data is compiled by me from a bunch of disparate sources all over the internet.
There should be some type of universal reporting system for this.
So, someone get on it.
June 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Always helpful to see how large (or small) a bunch of religious denominations/groups are.
This data is compiled by me from a bunch of disparate sources all over the internet.
There should be some type of universal reporting system for this.
So, someone get on it.
This data is compiled by me from a bunch of disparate sources all over the internet.
There should be some type of universal reporting system for this.
So, someone get on it.
Support for legal access to an abortion if a woman wants one for any reason.
2000:
Never Church Attenders: 52%
Weekly Attenders: 23%
2024:
Never Church Attenders: 74% (+22)
Weekly Attenders: 33% (+10)
2000:
Never Church Attenders: 52%
Weekly Attenders: 23%
2024:
Never Church Attenders: 74% (+22)
Weekly Attenders: 33% (+10)
June 14, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Support for legal access to an abortion if a woman wants one for any reason.
2000:
Never Church Attenders: 52%
Weekly Attenders: 23%
2024:
Never Church Attenders: 74% (+22)
Weekly Attenders: 33% (+10)
2000:
Never Church Attenders: 52%
Weekly Attenders: 23%
2024:
Never Church Attenders: 74% (+22)
Weekly Attenders: 33% (+10)
What role should the US take in the conflict between Israel and Hamas?
22% of the public says "stay out of it."
26% wants to send arms to Israel. It's 59% of Jews.
23% wants to deploy US troops to the region. It's 40% of Jews.
Basically no one wants to arm Hamas.
22% of the public says "stay out of it."
26% wants to send arms to Israel. It's 59% of Jews.
23% wants to deploy US troops to the region. It's 40% of Jews.
Basically no one wants to arm Hamas.
June 9, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What role should the US take in the conflict between Israel and Hamas?
22% of the public says "stay out of it."
26% wants to send arms to Israel. It's 59% of Jews.
23% wants to deploy US troops to the region. It's 40% of Jews.
Basically no one wants to arm Hamas.
22% of the public says "stay out of it."
26% wants to send arms to Israel. It's 59% of Jews.
23% wants to deploy US troops to the region. It's 40% of Jews.
Basically no one wants to arm Hamas.
I've got a really fun post on the newsletter today about the religious beliefs of CLERGY.
This question asks about religious beliefs.
98% of Black Protestant clergy believe in God without a doubt.
Evangelicals: 89%
Catholics: 85%
Mainline: 70%
This question asks about religious beliefs.
98% of Black Protestant clergy believe in God without a doubt.
Evangelicals: 89%
Catholics: 85%
Mainline: 70%
June 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I've got a really fun post on the newsletter today about the religious beliefs of CLERGY.
This question asks about religious beliefs.
98% of Black Protestant clergy believe in God without a doubt.
Evangelicals: 89%
Catholics: 85%
Mainline: 70%
This question asks about religious beliefs.
98% of Black Protestant clergy believe in God without a doubt.
Evangelicals: 89%
Catholics: 85%
Mainline: 70%
How would I describe Latter-day Saints politically?
Clearly Republicans.
They were hesitant to go full MAGA back in 2016.
But a whole bunch of them warmed to Trump in 2020 and 2024.
It's hard to know the 'default' distribution of LDS votes, though.
Maybe ~70% GOP.
Clearly Republicans.
They were hesitant to go full MAGA back in 2016.
But a whole bunch of them warmed to Trump in 2020 and 2024.
It's hard to know the 'default' distribution of LDS votes, though.
Maybe ~70% GOP.
June 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
How would I describe Latter-day Saints politically?
Clearly Republicans.
They were hesitant to go full MAGA back in 2016.
But a whole bunch of them warmed to Trump in 2020 and 2024.
It's hard to know the 'default' distribution of LDS votes, though.
Maybe ~70% GOP.
Clearly Republicans.
They were hesitant to go full MAGA back in 2016.
But a whole bunch of them warmed to Trump in 2020 and 2024.
It's hard to know the 'default' distribution of LDS votes, though.
Maybe ~70% GOP.
The share of Catholics who attend Mass weekly in 2008 vs 2024, by age.
18-35: +11
36-44: +5
45-54: -5
55-64: -13
65+: -21
18-35: +11
36-44: +5
45-54: -5
55-64: -13
65+: -21
May 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
The share of Catholics who attend Mass weekly in 2008 vs 2024, by age.
18-35: +11
36-44: +5
45-54: -5
55-64: -13
65+: -21
18-35: +11
36-44: +5
45-54: -5
55-64: -13
65+: -21
Let me help you all contextualize just how bad the Southern Baptist Convention's membership losses are.
They have shed ~3.6M members since 2006.
The entire Assemblies of God is 2.98M.
The ELCA is 2.9M
Lutheran Church - MO Synod is 1.7M
American Baptists are 1.2M
They have shed ~3.6M members since 2006.
The entire Assemblies of God is 2.98M.
The ELCA is 2.9M
Lutheran Church - MO Synod is 1.7M
American Baptists are 1.2M
May 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Let me help you all contextualize just how bad the Southern Baptist Convention's membership losses are.
They have shed ~3.6M members since 2006.
The entire Assemblies of God is 2.98M.
The ELCA is 2.9M
Lutheran Church - MO Synod is 1.7M
American Baptists are 1.2M
They have shed ~3.6M members since 2006.
The entire Assemblies of God is 2.98M.
The ELCA is 2.9M
Lutheran Church - MO Synod is 1.7M
American Baptists are 1.2M
Black Christians are much more socially moderate than the the average Democrat.
24 points more likely to want to ban abortion pills in the mail.
20 points more likely to support a ban on gender transition for minors.
30 points more likely to support school vouchers
24 points more likely to want to ban abortion pills in the mail.
20 points more likely to support a ban on gender transition for minors.
30 points more likely to support school vouchers
May 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Black Christians are much more socially moderate than the the average Democrat.
24 points more likely to want to ban abortion pills in the mail.
20 points more likely to support a ban on gender transition for minors.
30 points more likely to support school vouchers
24 points more likely to want to ban abortion pills in the mail.
20 points more likely to support a ban on gender transition for minors.
30 points more likely to support school vouchers
You know that narrative that is out there about a religious revival among Gen Z?
I get asked about it a lot.
This is brand new data from the General Social Survey (released yesterday).
Gen Z are the least likely to be weekly attenders.
The most likely to be never attenders.
I get asked about it a lot.
This is brand new data from the General Social Survey (released yesterday).
Gen Z are the least likely to be weekly attenders.
The most likely to be never attenders.
May 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
You know that narrative that is out there about a religious revival among Gen Z?
I get asked about it a lot.
This is brand new data from the General Social Survey (released yesterday).
Gen Z are the least likely to be weekly attenders.
The most likely to be never attenders.
I get asked about it a lot.
This is brand new data from the General Social Survey (released yesterday).
Gen Z are the least likely to be weekly attenders.
The most likely to be never attenders.
62% of white evangelicals have watched Fox News in the past 24 hours.
Just 16% of atheists have watched Fox.
Meanwhile, 48% of atheists have watched MSNBC.
Just 13% of white evangelicals have watched MSNBC.
Just 16% of atheists have watched Fox.
Meanwhile, 48% of atheists have watched MSNBC.
Just 13% of white evangelicals have watched MSNBC.
May 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
62% of white evangelicals have watched Fox News in the past 24 hours.
Just 16% of atheists have watched Fox.
Meanwhile, 48% of atheists have watched MSNBC.
Just 13% of white evangelicals have watched MSNBC.
Just 16% of atheists have watched Fox.
Meanwhile, 48% of atheists have watched MSNBC.
Just 13% of white evangelicals have watched MSNBC.
Here's a really interesting oddity in the data.
In the United States, education is positively related to religious attendance.
More educated people are more religiously active.
In Europe, it's the exact opposite.
It's a bit of a puzzle, really.
In the United States, education is positively related to religious attendance.
More educated people are more religiously active.
In Europe, it's the exact opposite.
It's a bit of a puzzle, really.
May 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Here's a really interesting oddity in the data.
In the United States, education is positively related to religious attendance.
More educated people are more religiously active.
In Europe, it's the exact opposite.
It's a bit of a puzzle, really.
In the United States, education is positively related to religious attendance.
More educated people are more religiously active.
In Europe, it's the exact opposite.
It's a bit of a puzzle, really.
From what I can see in the data, the idea that there's this huge rise in people who are highly spiritual but not at all religious is just way, way overblown.
It was only 4% of the population in 2022.
It was only 4% of the population in 2022.
May 15, 2025 at 1:11 PM
From what I can see in the data, the idea that there's this huge rise in people who are highly spiritual but not at all religious is just way, way overblown.
It was only 4% of the population in 2022.
It was only 4% of the population in 2022.
The share of Southern Baptists who believe that:
"the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word"
was 58% in the 1980s.
In data collected in 2021 and 2022, it was 75%.
An all-time high.
"the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word"
was 58% in the 1980s.
In data collected in 2021 and 2022, it was 75%.
An all-time high.
May 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The share of Southern Baptists who believe that:
"the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word"
was 58% in the 1980s.
In data collected in 2021 and 2022, it was 75%.
An all-time high.
"the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word"
was 58% in the 1980s.
In data collected in 2021 and 2022, it was 75%.
An all-time high.
A couple years ago we asked a bunch of evangelicals if they were fine with women serving in various leadership roles in the church.
87% would allow women to teach Sunday School
81% would allow women to preach at a woman's conference.
73% were fine w/them preaching on Sunday.
87% would allow women to teach Sunday School
81% would allow women to preach at a woman's conference.
73% were fine w/them preaching on Sunday.
May 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A couple years ago we asked a bunch of evangelicals if they were fine with women serving in various leadership roles in the church.
87% would allow women to teach Sunday School
81% would allow women to preach at a woman's conference.
73% were fine w/them preaching on Sunday.
87% would allow women to teach Sunday School
81% would allow women to preach at a woman's conference.
73% were fine w/them preaching on Sunday.
*whistles to self*
Look at all that liberal drift inside the Southern Baptist Convention.....
Look at all that liberal drift inside the Southern Baptist Convention.....
May 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM
*whistles to self*
Look at all that liberal drift inside the Southern Baptist Convention.....
Look at all that liberal drift inside the Southern Baptist Convention.....
The majority of United Methodists voted for Trump.
So did the majority of Evangelical Lutherans.
And Presbyterian Church USA.
As far as I can tell, the only majority white "major" Protestant denomination that clearly leans Democratic:
The Episcopal Church.
So did the majority of Evangelical Lutherans.
And Presbyterian Church USA.
As far as I can tell, the only majority white "major" Protestant denomination that clearly leans Democratic:
The Episcopal Church.
May 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The majority of United Methodists voted for Trump.
So did the majority of Evangelical Lutherans.
And Presbyterian Church USA.
As far as I can tell, the only majority white "major" Protestant denomination that clearly leans Democratic:
The Episcopal Church.
So did the majority of Evangelical Lutherans.
And Presbyterian Church USA.
As far as I can tell, the only majority white "major" Protestant denomination that clearly leans Democratic:
The Episcopal Church.
Rank and file mainline Protestants are not liberal.
They've never been liberal.
They are moving increasingly towards the Republican party.
Please stop saying "liberal mainline."
They've never been liberal.
They are moving increasingly towards the Republican party.
Please stop saying "liberal mainline."
May 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Rank and file mainline Protestants are not liberal.
They've never been liberal.
They are moving increasingly towards the Republican party.
Please stop saying "liberal mainline."
They've never been liberal.
They are moving increasingly towards the Republican party.
Please stop saying "liberal mainline."
I think we've oversold the whole idea that millennials have left the church in droves.
In 2008, 24% of them reported weekly attendance.
In 2024, it was 22%.
But here's the bigger story:
24% of Gen Z are weekly attenders.
Higher than Gen X and Millennials.
In 2008, 24% of them reported weekly attendance.
In 2024, it was 22%.
But here's the bigger story:
24% of Gen Z are weekly attenders.
Higher than Gen X and Millennials.
May 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I think we've oversold the whole idea that millennials have left the church in droves.
In 2008, 24% of them reported weekly attendance.
In 2024, it was 22%.
But here's the bigger story:
24% of Gen Z are weekly attenders.
Higher than Gen X and Millennials.
In 2008, 24% of them reported weekly attendance.
In 2024, it was 22%.
But here's the bigger story:
24% of Gen Z are weekly attenders.
Higher than Gen X and Millennials.
The people with the highest self-reported level of happiness?
Those who attend religious services weekly.
But look at the top row - that's people who attend services in-person weekly.
Their level of online attendance has little bearing on their happiness.
Those who attend religious services weekly.
But look at the top row - that's people who attend services in-person weekly.
Their level of online attendance has little bearing on their happiness.
May 9, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The people with the highest self-reported level of happiness?
Those who attend religious services weekly.
But look at the top row - that's people who attend services in-person weekly.
Their level of online attendance has little bearing on their happiness.
Those who attend religious services weekly.
But look at the top row - that's people who attend services in-person weekly.
Their level of online attendance has little bearing on their happiness.
Here's a map of a whole bunch of megachurches throughout the United States.
In a new paid post today, I do some initial analysis of denominational breakdown, state by state analysis and explore the relationship between population size and number of megachurches.
In a new paid post today, I do some initial analysis of denominational breakdown, state by state analysis and explore the relationship between population size and number of megachurches.
May 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Here's a map of a whole bunch of megachurches throughout the United States.
In a new paid post today, I do some initial analysis of denominational breakdown, state by state analysis and explore the relationship between population size and number of megachurches.
In a new paid post today, I do some initial analysis of denominational breakdown, state by state analysis and explore the relationship between population size and number of megachurches.
In Europe, there are some countries with a rate of devout Christians that rival many states.
For instance, 39% of Poland is weekly attending Christians.
That's similar to Utah and N. Dakota.
But a big chunk of Europe is in the single digits.
Less than Maine at 10%.
For instance, 39% of Poland is weekly attending Christians.
That's similar to Utah and N. Dakota.
But a big chunk of Europe is in the single digits.
Less than Maine at 10%.
May 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
In Europe, there are some countries with a rate of devout Christians that rival many states.
For instance, 39% of Poland is weekly attending Christians.
That's similar to Utah and N. Dakota.
But a big chunk of Europe is in the single digits.
Less than Maine at 10%.
For instance, 39% of Poland is weekly attending Christians.
That's similar to Utah and N. Dakota.
But a big chunk of Europe is in the single digits.
Less than Maine at 10%.
It looks like the rise of secularism in Europe has also hit a plateau recently.
I compared religious attendance rates in 22 countries between 2018 and 2023.
In many, the share who never attend hasn't moved that much.
And attendance has increased a bit in a handful.
I compared religious attendance rates in 22 countries between 2018 and 2023.
In many, the share who never attend hasn't moved that much.
And attendance has increased a bit in a handful.
May 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
It looks like the rise of secularism in Europe has also hit a plateau recently.
I compared religious attendance rates in 22 countries between 2018 and 2023.
In many, the share who never attend hasn't moved that much.
And attendance has increased a bit in a handful.
I compared religious attendance rates in 22 countries between 2018 and 2023.
In many, the share who never attend hasn't moved that much.
And attendance has increased a bit in a handful.
Human Flourishing is a measure meant to assess overall well-being on a bunch of dimensions: health, character, finances, etc.
I was really shocked to see how much flourishing declines when young people hit 18 years old.
And it never really recovers.
I was really shocked to see how much flourishing declines when young people hit 18 years old.
And it never really recovers.
May 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Human Flourishing is a measure meant to assess overall well-being on a bunch of dimensions: health, character, finances, etc.
I was really shocked to see how much flourishing declines when young people hit 18 years old.
And it never really recovers.
I was really shocked to see how much flourishing declines when young people hit 18 years old.
And it never really recovers.