Is Congress Unfairly Dominated by Christians?
A recent New York Times headline clearly intended to alarm readers. “The New Congress is 91% Christian,” the newspaper declared. “That’s barely budged since 1961.” Since “the percentage of Christians among the United States population is declining” the article suggested it’s inappropriate that the percentage of Christians in Congress remains so high.
Actually, numbers provided by Pew Research Center show that an overwhelming majority of Americans—71 percent—still say they are formally affiliated with a Christian church, with less than 7 percent affiliated with all other faiths combined.
This means that those who participate in organized Christianity outnumber those who take part in all other faith communities combined—and by more than 10-1! With no other faith close to Christianity in popularity and influence, and with a widespread assumption that religious commitment connects to good character, it should surprise no one that 9 of 10 of those we elect to of Congress identify as Christian.