So What Faith

Greg Smith

Are You Part of an Endangered Species? (#2109)

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There are more articles exploring the shift in the American religious landscape over the last 50+ years than I care to attempt to count.

For those seeking to lead well and hoping to shape what’s yet to come, understanding these changes is essential.

Added to Endangered Species List

Earlier this month, sociologist Ryan Burge tweeted, “White liberal Christians are an endangered species.” In support of that claim he provided the graphic below and the following data points:

  • In 1972: 23% of all Americans were white Protestant Democrats. 17% were white Catholic Democrats. 40% of the population.
  • In 2022: 7% were white Protestant Democrats. 6% were white Catholic Democrats. 13%.
Image available at https://twitter.com/ryanburge/status/1757050714805748094/photo/1

So What?

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2020 the U.S. population included 258.3 million adults in 2020. Since 13% of that number are white liberal Christians, we know that more than 33.5 million people found themselves in this group as of a few years ago.

I’d argue that a population just with the U.S. borders does not suggest placement just yet on the endangered species list since the National Wildlife Foundation defines that group as “an animal or plant that’s considered at risk of extinction.”

Burge identified a decline of 67.5% in this group over the most recent forty year period. And, like other trends in American religion, one should assume the trend line will continue indefinitely unless interrupted by a major cultural shift. If the decline continues at a similar rate in another decade or so I’d begin to feel comfortable using this language.

Whether you agree or disagree with Burge’s choice of language, the trend toward fewer and fewer white liberal Christians as a percentage of the American adult population is significant. And, on the Protestant side has been relatively steady throughout the last four decades.

For Further Reading