Black Americans usually attend predominantly black churches, rely on prayer to make decisions, study shows

Most black Americans who attend religious services go to predominantly black congregations. Also, most black Americans rely on prayer to help make major decisions and view opposing racism as essential to the faith.

Those are among the key findings in a comprehensive report released Feb. 16 by the Pew Research Center, which surveyed 8,660 black adults across the United States about their religious experiences.

Among black adults who go to religious services, 60% attend churches where the senior clergy and most or all of the congregation are black, Pew found. Research indicated that 25% are part of multiracial congregations, and 13% are part of congregations that are predominantly white or another ethnicity.

Generational shift

Yet, these patterns of worship are shifting across generations: Younger black adults, born since 1980, attend church less often than their elders, and those who attend are less likely to do so in a predominantly black congregation. Additionally, these younger black adults are less likely to rely on prayer, less likely to have grown up in black churches and less likely to say religion is an important part of their lives.

The survey found that 66% of black Americans are Protestant, 6% are Catholic and 3% identify with other Christian faiths — mostly Jehovah’s Witnesses. Another 3% belong to Islam or other non-Christian faiths.

Some 21% are not affiliated with any religion and instead identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” Black Americans born since 1980 are far more likely to be among the unaffiliated.

Regarding the influence of black churches on racial equality, 77% said predominantly black churches had played “some” role in helping black people move toward racial equality. Yet just one third said historically black congregations should preserve their traditional character; 61% said these congregations should become more racially and ethnically diverse.

Nearly half of respondents said black churches are less influential today than 50 years ago, while 30% believe they are more influential and 20% say they have about the same amount of influence.

To see the report in its entirety, go to https://www.pewforum.org/2021/02/16/faith-among-black-americans.