Everyone across the United States practices their faith differently. Recent surveys and studies give a glimpse of just how different people practice and express their beliefs.

1. Uphill: A Quick Look
at the State of
Religion in the US
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2. Everyone across the United States practices their faith differently.
Recent surveys and studies give a glimpse of just how different people
practice and express their beliefs.
Losing Faith
Americans are losing faith, at least according to a 2014 survey on
religion. Jointly conducted by The Wall Street Journal and NBC, the
survey found that 21 percent of Americans do not feel that religion is
important in their daily lives. One in five of the respondents said religion
is “not that important.”
This is the highest percentage recorded ever since the poll was first
conducted in 1997. In 1999, only 16% of respondents said religion did
not play a huge role in their lives, and 14% said the same in 1997.
The new data shows that the less-religious Americans are likely to be
men, under 35, live in the Northeast or West, and has an average
income over $75,000.

3. Keeping Faith
The same poll, however, shows that more than half of Americans still
consider faith as an important part of their lives. 41% of the respondents
said their faith is “very important” to them, and 13% said it is the “most
important” aspect of their lives.
Christians say this renewed and strengthened faith is due in part to the
rise in non-denominational churches, which allows people to practice and
express their faith without following the strict rules imposed by certain
denominations or religions.
The same WSJ-NBC poll also showed that Pope Francis has had a great
impact in their faith, with six in ten Catholics saying they have renewed
and strengthened their faith and commitment to the Roman Catholic
Church because of the Pontiff. Three in ten disagreed while one in ten was
unsure.

4. Faith in the Legislative
Despite being bitterly divided on most social and political issues, the
current 114th
Congress of the United States seems to almost share one
thing in common: their faith.
Almost 92% of the men and women sitting in the 114th
Congress—or 491
of the current 535 members—identifies as Christians, compared to 90% in
the 113th
Congress. Christians dominate both the Democratic and
Republican parties, with Democrats being the more religiously diverse
group.
Of the 301 sitting Republicans in the 114th
Congress, only one is non-
Christian—Jewish Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York.
Meanwhile, 80% of the sitting Democrats are Christian, with 44% of them
identifying as Protestant, 35% Catholic, and 1% Mormon. 12% of the
Democrats in that Congress are Jewish, two are Buddhists, two Muslims,
one Hindu, and one unaffiliated.
Whatever group one belongs to, faith is always used as a tool to share
messages and works of compassion and care—things that apply to
everyone.
Resources:
http://www.restorationcommunitychurch.us/
http://kdvr.com/2015/01/05/survey-92-percent-of-congress-is-christian/
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/losing-faith-21-percent-
say-religion-not-important-n51256