Religious Property Values Could Slide With Continued Declines in Church Attendance

According to a recent Gallup Survey, only 47% of the US population are members of a church, mosque, or synagogue.  This compares to 70% membership two decades ago.  The long-term prognosis is even worse since 66% of people born before 1946 are still members of a church, but only 36% of millennials.

According to Michele Margolis, associate professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and author of From Politics to the Pews, more than 20% of all Americans are classed as “nones” and over 1/3 of Americans under 30 have no religious identity.

An article in The Guardian, April 5, 2021 by Adam Gabbatt, reported that the politicization of religion has had a negative impact on younger member participation.  Galllup reports that the number of Democratic church members dropped by 25% over the 20-year period, with independents decreasing by 18%.  Republican membership also declined, but by only 12%.

David Campbell, professor and chair of the University of Notre Dame’s political science department and co-author of Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics argues that “Many Americans – especially young people – see religion as bound up with political conservatism and the Republican Party specifically….” Since that is not their party, or their politics, they do not want to identify as being religious.