How Americans See Religion in Public Life

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that "a majority of U.S. adults (61%) say the influence of religion is declining in America," even though the percentage who see religion gaining (37%) is up from a low in 2024, reversing a long decline.

Perhaps this perception of reversal is partly because on February 6, 2025, the White House issued an executive order Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias. And on May 1, 2025, the White House issued an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission.

"More than half of Americans say religion plays a positive role in society. But most U.S. adults reject the idea that Christianity should be the nation’s official religion. And majorities want churches and other houses of worship to stay out of day-to-day politics and not endorse candidates."

Meanwhile, the Associated Press says in a May 9, 2026, article, Rejecting church and state separation is on the wish list for Trump’s religious liberty commission. noted that "the chair of the Religious Liberty Commission is calling for a federal hotline with this automated recording: “There is no separation of church and state.”

And the AP says in a May `14, 2026, article, the Trump administration will join a prayer gathering criticized for promoting Christian nationalism, stating that "Several members of the Religious Liberty Commission are scheduled to take part in a May 17, 2026, prayer event marking the country’s upcoming 250th birthday. Several also participated in a recent Bible-reading marathon staged largely at the Museum of the Bible."

"The definition of 'religious liberty' among many conservative Catholic and evangelical activists includes: increasing avenues for religious expression in public schools; expanding opportunities for faith-based organizations to receive public money; and allowing for religious-based exemptions in areas ranging from labor law to classroom lessons to healthcare mandates." ~ Associated Press

Here is a link to the DOJ list of Religious Liberty Commission and Advisory Board members.