The 1990s may have been the most pivotal decade for religious change in modern America. In this episode, we look at Ryan Burge’s analysis of young adults and the sharp rise of the religiously unaffiliated during those years. The surprising part of the story is that no single Christian tradition collapsed on its own. Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Black Protestants, and Catholics all lost ground, while church attendance also weakened. The result was not just a momentary shift but a long-term realignment that still shapes the religious landscape today.
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- The 1990s were the decisive decade. Among young adults, Christian identity fell from 87% in 1991 to 73% in 1998, while the nonreligious rose from 8% to 20%.
- No single group caused the decline. Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Black Protestants, and Catholics all lost share, meaning the shift was broad-based across Christianity.
- Attendance patterns changed alongside affiliation. Weekly, monthly, and yearly attendance all declined, while those attending less than once a year increased substantially.
- The effects of that decade are still with us. Burge argues that much of the religious landscape since 2000 reflects momentum that was established in the 1990s.
Resources:
- “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline (affiliate link)
- “The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?” by Jim Davis, Michael Graham, and Ryan Burge (affiliate link)
- “The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church: Discover How Your Church Is Primed to Reach Your Neighbors” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link)
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