Is religion in America making a comeback? Or is it experiencing an exodus? According to a new article in Y Magazine, BYU experts say that both may be true.
Dr. Paul Lambert and Wheatley Fellows Justin Dyer and Loren Marks provided expert insights on the trends facing US religiosity today in "Forecasting Faith: Is American Religion in an Exodus or a Revival"? Published in the Winter 2026 Edition of the Y Magazine and written by Peter Gardner, the article highlights several facets of the complex issue.
- "The Rise of the Nones": Young people changing their religious beliefs and practices is "not a Gen Z phenomenon", says Loren Marks. However, the number of people who identify with no religion, or no religion in particular, has gone up dramatically since the 1990s, coinciding with the rise of the internet and plateauing in recent years.
- Politics and Religion: In some cases, politics has begun replacing religion as the lens through which individuals determine right from wrong. Justin Dyer explains, "The number one predictor of leaving your faith is your politics— on either of the extremes... [People] are more likely to go with their politics than with their religion."
- The Benefits of Religious Participation: Research is complex, but the positive benefits of regular religious participation are stunningly clear. "On virtually every outcome, religious practitioners are much more likely to flourish... that's not just a religious argument. That's also a data argument," Paul Lambert states.
- Is Faith Making a Comeback? Researchers disagree on if and why America is experiencing a religious revival.