America’s Religious Revival Is a Mirage

Summary: America used to be the most religious rich country in the world. Why? Because we didn't have an official government church, which forced different religions to compete for followers. But in the 1990s, the number of Americans with no religion—often called the "nones"—skyrocketed.

This sudden change happened for a few reasons. First, the Cold War ended, so people were no longer afraid that being an atheist meant they were a communist. Second, the internet allowed non-religious people to find each other and build communities. Finally, politics became bitterly divided, and as one party closely aligned with religion, many people who disagreed politically decided to leave the church behind.

For more details, see rssapp-theringer-com at theringer.com/podcasts/plain-english-with-derek-thompson/2026/04/08/americas-religious-revival-is-a-mirage (opens in new tab)