New data for 2024 reveals a complex and somewhat contradictory landscape for religious observance in Georgia. While the state continues to boast a higher proportion of religiously active individuals compared to national averages, a broader trend of declining Christian identification is evident. However, specific denominations, notably Georgia Baptists, are reporting significant increases in church attendance and baptisms, suggesting a nuanced picture of faith in the Peach State.
A comprehensive study by the Pew Research Center conducted between 2023 and 2024 indicates that approximately 38% of Georgians attend religious services monthly. This figure places Georgia among the most religious states in the U.S., a testament to its enduring faith traditions.
Despite this overall high engagement, the percentage of Georgians identifying as Christian has seen a notable drop. In 2014, a substantial 79% of the state’s population identified as Christian. By 2024, that figure has fallen to 67%. Correspondingly, the segment of religiously unaffiliated adults, often referred to as “nones,” has grown from 18% to 26% during the same decade.
However, within this overarching decline, certain Christian denominations are experiencing a surge in activity. Georgia Baptist churches, for instance, reported a remarkable 6% increase in average weekly attendance in 2024, according to their Annual Church Profile. This survey also captured a more than 20% rise in baptisms compared to the previous year. The high response rate for this survey, nearly 70%, marks the highest since 2017, lending further weight to these findings.
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a national denomination with a presence in Georgia, also observed modest growth. In 2024, the PCA saw an overall membership increase of 1.84%, accompanied by notable upticks in professions of faith and adult baptisms.
Nationwide, while Southern Baptist congregations as a whole experienced a dip in membership between 2023 and 2024, they are in the midst of their fourth consecutive year of growth in baptisms. Furthermore, worship attendance across Southern Baptist churches saw a 6.27% increase, with Georgia ranking among the top states for attendance within this denomination.
Experts suggest that the reported attendance increases for Georgia and Southern Baptists may, in part, be attributed to a post-pandemic rebound. The significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to considerable declines in in-person attendance, and the current increases could represent a return to pre-pandemic norms, with some percentage gains being the largest recorded since the 1990s.
Generational shifts also play a crucial role in shaping these attendance patterns, impacting Georgia’s demographics as they do the rest of the country. While Baby Boomers have shown a slight increase in weekly attendance (from 27% to 28%), Generation X has seen a minor decline (from 24% to 22%). Millennials have experienced a more significant drop in weekly attendance (from 26% to 22%), and Generation Z has recorded the sharpest decline, falling to 24% in weekly attendance.
In conclusion, Georgia’s religious landscape in 2024 is a study in contrasts. While the broad trend points to a decreasing number of Georgians identifying as Christian, specific denominations are demonstrating vitality and growth. This complex interplay of declining overall identification, rebounding post-pandemic attendance, and evolving generational engagement ensures that the state’s religious future remains a subject of ongoing observation.
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