Is Christianity still the dominant religion in the United States?

ABSTRACT

It is reasonable to argue that the institutions in the United States have historically been geared toward benefiting adherents of traditional Christianity. Thus, Christianity is perceived as the dominant religion in the US. While Christians have held a dominant religious position in the past, it is unwise to assume that their level of power in society remains at such high levels. I explore that question by assessing what it means to be a dominant group and then examining whether contemporary US Christianity meets that requirement. Christians appear to have no real financial advantage, are at a disadvantage culturally, but perhaps have some political resources, although that advantage may disappear over time. Whether Christians experience dominant status is not merely dependent upon the dimension (economic, cultural or political) being assessed, but also upon the Christian sub-groups to which they belong. In exploring whether Christians generally enjoy dominant group status in the United States, these complexities make it difficult to settle on a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. This analysis is valuable in challenging simplistic assertions about the place of Christianity in the US.

KEYWORDS:

• Christianity
• dominant group
• economic stratification
• cultural dominance
• political power

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. This case determined that schools may not sponsor clerics to conduct even non-denominational prayer.

2. This case legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

3. My thanks to Ryan Burge who pointed this out in a private communication.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

George Yancey

George Yancey is a Professor of Sociology at Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He has published research articles on the topics of institutional racial diversity, racial identity, academic bias, progressive Christians, and anti-Christian hostility. He is currently working on a book contrasting the theological and political priorities of progressive and conservative Christians. CORRESPONDENCE: Baylor University, Institute for Studies of Religion, One Bear Place, P.O. Box 97236 Waco, Texas 76798, USA.