By Debbie Kelley | Denver Gazette
After years of more and more Americans claiming atheism, agnosticism or “nothing in particular” in religiosity, there are signs that the category is leveling off at 29% of the population, while at the same time, the continual decline of Americans who self-identify as Christians appears to have reached a plateau, according to a new study from Pew Research Center.
Slightly more than 6 in 10 of the 36,908 respondents in the Religious Landscape Study released in February consider themselves to be Christians.
Though that represents a 9-percentage-point drop from a decade ago, the stability is now a trend, Pew says. For the past five years, from 2019 through 2024, the Christian share of the adult population has remained between 60% and 64%, instead of sliding further downward.
That means growth for some churches, like Woodmen Valley Chapel, which on Easter is opening its fourth permanent campus in El Paso County.
“Easter is a central day to our faith,” said Don McCaleb, senior communications director. “It commemorates Christ’s resurrection from the dead, his defeat over death, and gives us the opportunity to become fully alive in this life and eternal life.”
Inaugural services for the new Woodmen Downtown Campus at 16 E. Platte Ave., will be at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Sunday.
It’s been a race to finish the first installment of refurbishing what had been since 1935 First Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ affiliate, since acquiring the property for $4 million at the end of December, McCaleb said.
Last week, staff, volunteers and contractors worked hard on completing initial improvements of a $2 million phased renovation to mold the 90-year-old medieval English Gothic-style building to the needs of the 46-year-old Woodmen Valley Chapel.
Rooms have been reconfigured and repainted to create a welcome center with a 1930s-era fireplace, a children’s ministry wing and overflow seating for an expected crowd.
The sanctuary features a new raised platform where the altar used to be, with a giant overhead screen and upgraded sound equipment for live music and preaching during services. Bible passages have been painted on the walls, and new furnishings and décor have made the ground-floor level of the historic church brighter inside.
This year’s Easter theme for the nondenominational church is “The King is Dead — Long Live the King,” which is featured prominently on banners and in a video.
“As our king, he gives us a chance to live lives of purpose and fulfillment, not just as ourselves but as it is in heaven and flourishing over our city and neighbors,” McCaleb said. “It’s all wrapped up in the Easter story and celebration.”
For whatever reasons, the interest in Christianity is holding its own and in some cases heading on an upward trajectory. The indicators provide hope for renewal.
“We’re excited to invite those people who are seeking deeper meaning and spiritual truth and a life of significance that’s bigger than ourselves,” McCaleb said. “We’re praying God will get ahold of people’s hearts and reveal himself.”
In addition to the recent Pew study of American sentiment on religion, other research points to an emerging shift in what some consider to be a global spiritual awakening, according to last week’s episode of the “Rebuilders” podcast. The Australian production focuses on rebuilding various aspects of life.
Whether the movement can be attributed to post-pandemic recovery or people seeking calmness amid geo-political and national turbulence, presenters say there’s less antagonism or disinterest in faith and Christianity, to new seekers among Gen Zers in Europe and older adults in Australia, for example.
Church attendance at least monthly among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United Kingdom rose from 4% in 2018 to 16% in 2024, according to “The Quiet Revival,” a report released April 8 by the Bible Society.
Among all United Kingdom adults surveyed, the number of at least monthly churchgoers increased from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024, a 56% jump. The data is considered to be a myth buster to the prevailing thought that Christian churches are in decline, the authors say.