Good Faith The Vanishing Church and Why It's Hurting American Democracy with Ryan Burge
22 snips
Jan 22, 2026 
Ryan Burge, a political scientist and former pastor, discusses the alarming decline of moderate American churches and its impact on democracy. He shares insights on the shifting demographics of evangelicals, mainline Protestants, and Catholics, revealing increasing polarization. Burge advocates for community engagement, encouraging even the nonbelievers to participate in church life to foster social cohesion. He emphasizes the church's potential role in reducing political divides and offers hope for rebuilding connections in an anxious age.
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Mainline Churches Are Shrinking Fast
- Mainline Protestantism dominated mid-20th-century America but has suffered a steep, sustained decline.
- Today mainline denominations are a small, aging share of the population with very few young members.
Welcome Doubters And Seekers
- Mainline churches should emphasize hospitality for doubters and seekers who dislike dogmatic certainty.
- Preserve spaces for social service and loose doctrine to retain those repelled by strict certainty.
Catholicism Is Cultural, Not Always Practiced
- Catholic affiliation has stayed relatively stable while active practice dropped significantly.
- American Catholicism is increasingly a cultural identity rather than a consistently practiced faith.
