It's A Numbers Game with Ryan Girdusky

It's a Numbers Game: The Numbers Behind Christianity in America with Ryan Burge

11 snips
Sep 25, 2025
Ryan Burge, a Professor at the Don Forth Center for Religion and Politics, dives into fascinating data on Christianity in America. He reveals intriguing trends about young believers, including why they might be more devout today. The discussion expands to how education impacts church attendance and the political polarization affecting faith communities. Burge highlights the changing landscape of Christianity, with the rise of Pentecostalism and the shrinking influence of mainline Protestantism. His insights shed light on the connection between religion and social trust.
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ANECDOTE

A Friend Returned To Church After Kirk's Death

  • Ryan Girdusky recounts a friend who hadn't gone to church in 20 years but attended after Charlie Kirk's assassination and cried during the service.
  • He uses this to illustrate immediate, emotional religious engagement after public events.
INSIGHT

Pew Finds Slight Youth Uptick In Christian ID

  • Pew found 63% of Americans identify as Christian and 92% believe in some spiritual dimension beyond the natural.
  • Among cohorts born 1990–2006, identification as Christian rose slightly between 2022–2024, suggesting a slowed secularization trend.
INSIGHT

Long Decline Then Stabilization

  • The share of Americans identifying as Christian fell from 90% to 63% between 1972 and about 2020 and has since stabilized.
  • Singular events (like 9/11) produced only short-lived religiosity bumps, so durable revivals are unlikely according to Ryan Burge.
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