According to a recent survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, church attendance for Generation X has experienced a significant decline compared to other age groups since the pandemic.

The survey of 2,000 adults revealed that the percentage of people aged 39 to 57 attending worship services either in person or online dropped from 41% in 2020 to 28% in 2023. This decline was the largest among the surveyed age groups. Interestingly, Gen Xers' weekly worship attendance is now on par with millennials, both at 28%.

In contrast, the millennial generation showed the least change in their perspectives about the Christian faith and their participation in biblical practice during the pandemic. George Barna, the director of research at the Cultural Research Center, emphasized that no generation endured greater spiritual turbulence than Gen X during these challenging times.

The survey also highlighted significant changes in religious beliefs among Gen Xers. They showed declines in their belief that God created humans, that He is the foundation of truth, and that He is the all-knowing and all-powerful ruler of the universe. These doubts have led to important shifts in religious behavior, including reduced Bible reading, less frequent church attendance, decreased confession of personal sin, a decline in seeking to do God's will, and a decrease in worshiping God.

Interestingly, baby boomers experienced a slight increase in church attendance over the past three years, making them the only age group with such an upward trend. On the other hand, the elderly saw only a minor decline in participation during the same period. These findings shed light on the diverse impacts of the pandemic on different age groups' religious practices and beliefs.

Experts cited in the Wall Street Journal pointed out that many individuals in their 40s and 50s, who were raised in the church, began seriously questioning their faith practice during the pandemic. Additionally, parents often attend places of worship to fulfill specific religious milestones for their children, but their participation tends to decrease afterward. Some experts described the decline in church attendance as a form of "quiet quitting," where attendees remain on membership rolls but stop attending and donating due to a lack of deep engagement.

According to a recent Gallup poll released on June 26, overall church attendance in the United States has dropped compared to pre-pandemic levels. The poll revealed that even with a slight increase, the attendance rate is still three percentage points lower than the 34% found in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Among different Christian denominations, post-pandemic church attendance rates declined more significantly among Catholics compared to Protestants. The average attendance rate for Catholics dropped from 37% (2016-2019) to only 30% (2020-2023).

Similarly, Protestants saw a decrease, but to a lesser extent, from 44% to 40% during the same time frame. These findings indicate the lasting impact of the pandemic on religious practices in America, particularly in relation to church attendance.

The polls indicate a consistent decline in church attendance since 2009 when 42% of respondents reported attending a service in the past week. Since then, attendance rates have mostly remained in the 30s, with only two exceptions: 40% in 2012 and 29% in 2021.

Church attendance reached its peak in the mid- to late-1950s, with the highest points being 49% in both 1955 and 1958. Gallup's data goes back to 1939 but only began conducting regular annual polls in the late 1980s.

Despite the decrease in church attendance, other data show that religious affiliation has remained largely unchanged since the pandemic, even though many individuals stopped attending church services.

This suggests that people are primarily distancing themselves from institutional churches rather than rejecting the faith itself. The trend highlights a shifting religious landscape and evolving attitudes toward organized religious institutions in recent times.