PARAGOULD, Ark. (KAIT) – A new study shows religion is gaining more influence in American life across the country, according to new data that shows a significant increase in adults who say religion’s role is growing.
According to a study from the Pew Research Center, in 2024, 18% of U.S. adults said that religion was gaining influence in American life, the lowest level in more than two decades.
Only a year later, in 2025, new data showed that 31% of adults said religion was gaining influence, the highest in 15 years.
Blake Ligon, teaching pastor at Central Baptist Church in Paragould, said he witnessed the trend locally before seeing the national data.
“I saw it before I heard it because we were seeing the Lord do some really awesome things in our own church,” Ligon said. “You take a step back and it’s like this is happening nationwide.”
Ligon said national events, artists and celebrities being more vocal about their beliefs, and the growing age of social media and technology help push more people to religion.
“I could preach a sermon in Northeast Arkansas and someone in Bangladesh could be watching it in real time,” Ligon said. “The spread of technology is also spreading Christianity and also spirituality.”
He said people want more purpose in their life.
“People are wanting truth, and I think what a lot of churches are doing is they are combining truth and transparency,” Ligon said.
Ligon acknowledged the church is not perfect.
“The church at times is going to let people down,” he said. “We’re human and we’re going to mess up.”
But he said he has a message for those watching.
“What I see across the landscape, whether you’re Christian or not, whether you go to church or don’t, whatever race you are, what I see as the very core of who we are: we want life to the fullest,” Ligon said. “We want hope, we want joy, we want something bigger and better than ourselves. That promise can only be found in Jesus Christ.”
“Everybody is spiritual,” Ligon said. “Even if you claim no deity in your life at all, everybody has a spiritual component to them. It’s how I believe that we’re made.”
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