A new Gallup poll finds that more Americans now believe religion is gaining influence in their society, marking a notable shift in public perception after years of secular trends. According to the June 2025 report, 34% of U.S. adults say that religion is increasing its influence in national life, up sharply from just 20% the previous year. Conversely, while a majority—59%—still think religion is losing ground, that proportion has fallen dramatically from 75% in 2024 (Gallup).
This upswing carries special significance in the context of the United States’ complex political and cultural landscape. For Thai readers, understanding shifts in American attitudes towards religion offers a valuable window into global trends affecting education, civil society, and even policy. Religion and its societal role are common points of comparison and contrast between the U.S. and Thailand—where Buddhism is central to national identity, while the secular constitution maintains a formal separation between religion and state.
Gallup’s long-running survey on religious influence demonstrates that such perceptions often change in response to major national or world events. For instance, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, public belief in the growing influence of religion leapt from 39% to 71%—the highest since Gallup began tracking this trend in 1957. Another smaller spike occurred amid the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, when 38% saw religion becoming more influential, a figure unseen since 2006.
Yet the latest surge is not simply a continuation of those event-driven patterns. Analysts note that personal religious commitment among Americans has remained stable: 47% say religion is “very important” in their lives, unchanged from the previous year. Instead, experts attribute the new perception primarily to politics. The poll’s timing—just after a sweeping victory by the Republican Party in national elections—suggests that election outcomes and the perceived alignment between religious values and political power may be driving the numbers.
Historically, Gallup data have shown that dramatic political shifts can affect public perceptions of religion’s social role. After the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, Americans were more likely to say religion was increasing in influence. On the other hand, after Democratic victories in 2008 and 2020, perceptions of religious influence reached record lows (16% in 2021 and 18% in 2009). These numbers suggest that many Americans gauge the influence of religion through the lens of electoral politics, rather than personal religious practice or changes in church attendance. Gallup
A breakdown of Gallup’s latest findings reveals this trend cuts across every major demographic and political subgroup. Comparing averages from 2022–2024 to the most recent surveys, the proportion of Americans who believe religion is growing in influence has jumped across the board—by double digits in almost every group. The largest shift occurred among Republicans (from 11% to 35%), followed by Democrats (32% to 41%) and independents (21% to 31%). The once-yawning gap between Republicans and Democrats on this question has narrowed significantly, from 21 to just 6 percentage points.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Democrats, liberals (43%), and young adults (40%) are now among those most likely to see religion as increasingly influential. Those least likely to agree include older adults (28%), moderates (29%), and rural residents (29%). Major religious categories—Protestants (33%), Catholics (35%), and Americans with no religious affiliation (36%)—now reflect remarkably similar views, suggesting that perceptions of religion’s role in society transcend precise religious identities.
Notably, Gallup found no significant difference in attitudes among people based on how often they attend religious services: 33% of weekly attendees, 31% of semi-regular attendees, and 37% of those who seldom or never attend respond that religion is gaining ground in society. This convergence may indicate that perceptions about religion’s influence are now more about cultural or political cues than direct religious experience (Gallup report).
For many Thai readers, these findings resonate in both familiar and unexpected ways. While Thailand is traditionally Buddhist, the country experiences periodic public debates about religion’s role in politics, education, and policy-making. Unlike the U.S., where legal and cultural barriers restrain overt religious influence on government, Thailand’s monks and temples participate actively in social life, and state ceremonies frequently incorporate Buddhist traditions. However, younger generations and urban residents are showing increased religious pluralism and questioning of traditional structures—echoing some of the secularizing trends seen in the West (BBC profile of Thailand).
Experts such as the director of a Thai university’s religious studies centre highlight the key lesson: “American attitudes remind us that religion’s social power is often inseparable from political context. Even if individuals aren’t more personally devout, their sense of what’s happening in society may change quickly in response to elections or national debates.” This is borne out by Gallup’s historical record, which links surges in perceived religious influence with moments of political or social upheaval, followed by periods of retrenchment.
Historical and cultural context further helps explain these American attitudes. The Pew Research Center confirms the decline in formal religious participation in the United States over the past two decades (Pew data). Church membership and attendance rates are at historic lows, while the “nones”—people with no religious identification—are at an all-time high. Thai experts in comparative religion note this pattern of secularization has parallels in Thailand’s cities and among the educated classes, despite ongoing reverence for Buddhist traditions in public life.
Gallup’s researchers and independent analysts caution that current attitudes are likely to shift again in coming years. As American demographics change, with younger people generally less religious than their elders, the underlying decline in religious observance may once again reshape perceptions. Moreover, if the political winds shift, so might views about religion’s social standing.
For Thailand, the U.S. experience offers a cautionary tale and a source of insight. As globalization intensifies contact between Thai and Western cultural norms, understanding the fluid relationship between religion, politics, and public perceptions is essential for policymakers, educators, and community leaders. In Thai classrooms, university departments, and family discussions, this is an opportunity to reflect critically on the similarities and differences between Thai and American patterns—especially as Thailand continues to modernize and urbanize.
Practical recommendations for Thai readers include maintaining awareness of the diverse ways religion intersects with daily life and recognizing that shifting perceptions—whether in Thailand or abroad—often reflect broader political, social, and generational changes rather than a straightforward “return” to traditional values. Education systems and media outlets can play a key role in fostering thoughtful dialogue and critical thinking about religion’s role, helping prepare Thai youth to navigate an increasingly complex world.
Finally, as the world watches politics, culture, and religion intertwine in new ways across continents, staying informed about such developments in major countries like the United States allows Thai citizens to better anticipate global trends that may reverberate back home. For further details and the latest updates on American public opinion, Gallup’s ongoing research may be followed through their official channels (Gallup).