#59 Why Religious Belief Is on the Decline - Christian Smith episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 20, 2025 · 1H 20M

#59 Why Religious Belief Is on the Decline - Christian Smith

from The Uncertainty Podcast · host Miles K. Donahue

Sociologist and professor Dr. Christian Smith discusses his recent book, Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America. We discuss the reasons for the decline of faith in a traditionally Christian nation, the seeming recent revival of faith among the younger generation, and what these developments mean for the future of religion in America.To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Feel free to follow me on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:00:13 How do we define religion?00:05:44 In what sense has religion gone obsolete?00:09:13 Why has religion gone obsolete?00:18:52 Is religion trending downward worldwide?00:21:20 The internet's role in undermining religion00:25:43 The "cringy-ness" of online religious outreach00:28:11 The legacy of the New Atheists00:32:01 The role conservative politics has played00:37:33 Does this mean Americans are atheists?00:46:50 The advance of science did not cause religious decline00:50:26 The negative impact of creationism00:54:01 Homosexuality and abortion as the ride-or-die issues01:02:09 A revival of faith among American youth?01:10:20 Does religion have a future? Get full access to Miles K. Donahue at mileskdonahue.substack.com/subscribe

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#59 Why Religious Belief Is on the Decline - Christian Smith

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Sociologist and professor Dr. Christian Smith discusses his recent book, Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America. We discuss the reasons for the decline of faith in a traditionally Christian nation, the seeming recent...

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