In a significant shift in public opinion, a majority of Americans now believe that faith in God is not a prerequisite for possessing moral values, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. This perspective is predominantly supported by those who do not subscribe to theistic beliefs.
The Pew study, released earlier this month, reveals a growing global consensus that morality and good values can exist independently of religious faith.
The U.S. segment of this research involved 3,605 adults surveyed between March 24 and March 30, 2025, as part of the American Trends Panel Wave 166 Survey. In 2025, 68% of American adults concurred that “It is not necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values,” marking the highest percentage since the question was first posed in 2002.
This marks a notable increase from 2014, when 58% of respondents agreed with this statement.
“From 2002 through 2011, Americans were split fairly evenly or tilted toward the view that people need to believe in God to be moral and have good values. Starting in 2014, however, Americans have been more likely to say the opposite — that belief in God is not necessary to be moral,” stated Jonathan Evans, senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, in a statement.
Since 2020, approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults have held the position that belief in God isn’t necessary for morality.
Globally, the survey extended to 24 other countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas during spring 2025. In many European countries, the majority echoed the sentiment that moral values do not depend on religious belief.
Conversely, in India and Indonesia, the proportion of those asserting the necessity of belief in God for morality has risen.
“Indians today are 6 points more likely than in 2019 (85% vs. 79%) and 15 points more likely than in 2013 (85% vs. 70%) to say belief in God is necessary to be moral,” Evans commented. “In Indonesia, 96% of adults or more have connected belief in God with morality all five times we’ve asked the question since 2007.”
The research highlights a strong link between personal belief in God and the viewpoint that such belief is essential for morality, as noted by Evans.
In contrast to many European nations, countries such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Turkey show a majority believing in the link between faith and morality.
“In Hungary, for instance, two-thirds of adults who say religion is very important to them also say that belief in God is necessary to be moral,” Evans noted. “Among Hungarians who place less personal importance on religion, by comparison, just 19% connect belief in God with morality.”
This trend in American attitudes towards morality aligns with Gallup’s recent findings that indicate a rise in the number of Americans identifying as religious “nones,” with fewer than half viewing religion as “very important” in their lives.
Currently, only 47% of American adults consider religion “very important” in their lives, with an additional 25% considering it “fairly important.”
The percentage of Americans for whom religion is “very important” has been declining steadily from 70% to 75% in the 1950s and 1960s to 58% in 2012, according to Gallup data.
“Americans’ relationship with religion continues to evolve, marked by fewer adults describing religion as central to their lives,” Megan Brenan, a senior editor at Gallup, stated.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
