More Data Shows Democrats Have a Serious God Problem

It is well established that when it comes to God and the practice of faith, Democrats and Republicans are not similar. Not even close. And this has been well known for quite some time, according to the Pew Research Center. They reported on the Democrats’ serious “God problem” all the way back in 2006.

But it is getting worse.

Ryan Burge, a popular statistician of religion and professor at Washington University in St. Louis, has published new data showing just how stark this divide has grown. He calls it “The God Gap” explaining, “Simply put, religion in the United States (particularly white religion) is now Republican coded.” He explains the Democrats have become the party of declining faith.

Burge presents data, not just on what people say they believe about God by political party, but what they actually do. How often do registered Republicans and Democrats regularly attend religious services?

Well, let’s compare.

Two things to point out here.

First, the percentage of registered Republicans who are “never” or “seldom” attending any religious services has been growing since 2008. Does this mean Republicans themselves are growing more irreligious? Or is it that they are attracting more unchurched people into their fold?

Burge does not address this, but it is clear the Republican Party itself has changed significantly. And Trump has expanded the socio-demographic base of his party.

Second, Republican’s weekly and more-than-weekly faith service attendance is high and remains high. Burge notes, “what’s really striking to me is that this share hasn’t budged during Trump’s three runs for the White House – it’s been stuck at about 35%.” He adds, with bold emphasis, “The other thing worth noting is that the share of Republican voters who attend weekly hasn’t really changed much, it’s the more than once a week people who have started to disappear.” That group has changed from 18% in 2008, down to 11% in the most recent presidential election.

But this takes on new significance when we compare these numbers to what’s been happening among Democrats.

It is a whole other story of fast-growing irreligiosity among the Democrats. Professor Burge explains, with bold type again, “For every Harris voter who attended church weekly in 2024, there were about 4 Harris voters who attended less than once a year.” Democrat no- and very-low attendees have “really skyrocketed in the last couples of cycles.”

He concludes, “If that’s not the God Gap, I don’t know what is.”

But Burge is not done. He adds,

Burge continues,

Sadly, we are increasingly a divided nation. Data shows much of this divide cuts along the lines of faith and non-faith, it being so obvious that even some academics are now admitting the fact.

Add to this the fact that other reliable research shows that one party clearly has more pride in being American than the other. That is not even close either.

What matters is that people of faith, particularly the Judeo-Christian faith, stay involved in bringing their convictions into the public square, including the political sphere. We must all redouble our efforts to do so in 2026 and each year following.

Our world needs the preserving salt and illuminating light our faith has to offer.

Related articles and resources:

Data Shows Democrats Are Increasingly Secular

One Political Party is Clearly Prouder of America Than the Other

Is Religious Faith Gaining Influence in America?

Research Finds Republican Husbands More Faithful; Religious Even More

How Big is Your View of the Gospel?

The Cultural Paradox of Following Jesus Christ

The Church’s Lane is the Whole Cosmos

Appreciating the Full Scope of the Lordship of Christ – and the Gospel Itself

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