Is Christianity still the dominant religion in the United States?

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is reasonable to argue that the institutions in the United States have historically been geared toward benefiting adherents of traditional Christianity. Thus, Christianity is perceived as the dominant religion in the US. While Christians have held a dominant religious position in the past, it is unwise to assume that their level of power in society remains at such high levels. I explore that question by assessing what it means to be a dominant group and then examining whether contemporary US Christianity meets that requirement. Christians appear to have no real financial advantage, are at a disadvantage culturally, but perhaps have some political resources, although that advantage may disappear over time. Whether Christians experience dominant status is not merely dependent upon the dimension (economic, cultural or political) being assessed, but also upon the Christian sub-groups to which they belong. In exploring whether Christians generally enjoy dominant group status in the United States, these complexities make it difficult to settle on a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. This analysis is valuable in challenging simplistic assertions about the place of Christianity in the US.