During Donald Trump’s latest presidency, we’ve seen the far-right Christian nationalists holding their heads a bit higher, feeling a newfound confidence. A notable player in this scene is the evangelical Christ Church in Idaho, headed by Doug Wilson, who, interestingly, has some backward views — like believing women shouldn’t vote. Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, appears to be giving a collective nod of approval to Wilson and his ideology. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance, addressing the MAGA supporters at the recent AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix, asserted that America will “always be a Christian nation.”
After Vance’s statements, some serious pushback came from Steve Benen at MS NOW, who called Vance’s assertion “offensive, ahistorical nonsense,” reminding him that back in 1802, Thomas Jefferson famously championed the separation of church and state as a constitutional wall.
Despite the breathing space that Christian nationalism finds within the MAGA realm, Axios journalist Russell Contreras reports on an opposite trend known as “unchurching” sweeping through the U.S. Many individuals are leaning toward either a secular framework or adopting a less intense form of Christianity.
In his piece released after Christmas, Contreras notes that the U.S. is facing the speediest religious transition in modern times, highlighted by a surge in those identifying as religiously unaffiliated and an alarming number of church closures across the nation. As he states, “The Great Unchurching of America holds significance, shaking the foundation of identity shaped increasingly by unconventional spiritual sources — from YouTube gurus to TikTok tarot readings, digital skeptics, and even AI prayer bots. This is a significant paradigm shift with real effects on race, civic identity, political leanings, and the overall ability to navigate a splitting moral society.”
Contreras continues to dig deep into the statistics: about 30% of American adults today label themselves as religiously unaffiliated, which marks a remarkable 33% rise since 2013, according to data from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). This rate of change outpaces nearly every major religious transition in the recent history of the U.S., affecting diverse racial groups according to Axios’ findings. A significant byproduct of this transformation is the presence of what could be termed ‘church graveyards,’ with numerous unsellable or abandoned church buildings left in the wake of declining participation.
The reporter also cites Gallup data showing around 57% of Americans rarely or never step foot in religious services — a jump from 40% back in 2000. Moreover, a stunning estimate predicts approximately 15,000 churches might shut down this year, standing in stark contrast to the mere few thousand that are anticipated to open.
Melissa Deckman, the CEO of PRRI, adds to the discussion, stating there isn’t any real evidence suggesting a large-scale religious revival is taking place.
As Contreras summarizes, although there are anecdotes in the media showcasing Gen Z men gravitating back toward church, such occurrences seem few and far between and aren’t enough to mark any meaningful turnaround in the overarching trend. The bottom line: our old understanding of religious affiliation is rapidly fading away.
For the full insight, check out Russell Contreras’ article on Axios here.
