Americans Are Running Away From Church. But They Don’t Have to Run From Each Other.

At USA Today, Amanda Jayne Miller and James Willis III examine the ramifications of growing religious disaffiliation and decreasing importance of religion among Americans, as measured by PRRI. PRRI’s survey also shows a positive relationship between civic involvement and church attendance, with churchgoers being more likely to contact a government official (23%), volunteer for a political campaign (7%), or serve on a committee (17%) than those who seldom or never go to church. Noting that declining religious connection can have negative consequences for society, Miller and Willis encourage getting involved in social groups and community organizations — religious or secular — to rebuild our social capital.

The Alitos and Their Flags

For The New York Times, Jodi Kantor, Aric Toler, and Julie Tate report that the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, a symbol revived by far-right Christians in recent years and carried at the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was displayed at Justice Samuel Alito’s beach house, two years after an upside-down American flag was flown outside his Virginia home in January 2020. The revelations about the flags have prompted concerns from legal scholars and ethics experts; especially the timing of flying the “Appeal to Heaven” flag just as a key Jan. 6 case arrived at the Supreme Court. PRRI finds that support for Christian nationalism is strongly correlated with voting for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election at the state level.

Conspiracy Theorists Are More Diverse Than We Thought

Christopher T. Conner for The Conversation explores the diverse ideas and demographics of conspiracy theorists in the United States. What conspiracy theorists have in common is distrust in mainstream institutions, leading to resistance of mainstream institutions such as the government or scientists. As Conner highlights, PRRI found that 23% of Republicans, 14% of Independents, and 8% of Democrats agree that “the government, media, and financial worlds in the U.S. are controlled by a group of Satan-worshiping pedophiles,” one of the core tenants of the right-wing QAnon conspiracy theory.

Religion and Partisanship Among AAPI Voters Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election

This Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a new PRRI Spotlight Analysis reveals how religion impacts the political leanings of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who are the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the United States. In recent elections, AAPI voters have predominantly supported democratic candidates, identifying gun access, abortion, climate change, immigration, and LGBTQ rights as key issues. While President Joe Biden holds higher approval among AAPI Americans (53%) compared with former President Donald Trump (22%), AAPI Christians show less support for Biden compared to other groups. Read more here.