The Shift in Churches Caused by 9/11
The events of September 11, 2001 marked a profound and sad moment in American history, influencing almost every aspect of society in the short term. The immediate aftermath saw a noticeable increase in religious observance, but the long-term impact on churches and religious communities was less pronounced.
Where Were You During the Attacks?
I was walking to my Tuesday banking class on the University of South Carolina campus. As I entered the Darla Moore School of Business, I could tell a major event was occurring. People were crowded around televisions. The silence was eerie. I went to class.
I’ll never forget the words from our professor that morning in a half-full classroom: “Something is obviously happening in New York City, but we must stay focused on our assignments.”
About halfway through the 9:00 a.m. class, someone walked briskly into the class and whispered a few words to our professor.
He turned to us, “All of you may leave, and I recommend pulling as much cash out of your bank accounts as possible.”
We now know how perilously close our banking system came to an utter collapse due to liquidity shortfalls. I remember the tough decision of deciding how much to withdraw as I walked to the ATM. Should I pull out all $300? It was a lot of money to me as a 21-year-old back then.
The Immediate Religious Response
The financial impact of 9/11 is well documented. Thankfully, researchers at the time also noted the impact on churches. In November 2001, Barna completed a study comparing pre-attack and post-attack religious beliefs and behaviors.
In the wake of the attacks, there was a significant, albeit temporary, surge in religious participation. Church attendance shot up 25% but returned to normal by the end of 2001. Bible sales also spiked but then quickly returned to typical sales patterns. Many Americans turned to churches and other religious institutions seeking comfort, community, and meaning amidst the chaos and fear. But it was not long-lasting. The moment of comfort did not translate into transformational spiritual change.
More surprisingly, there was a drop in the belief of absolute moral truth at the end of 2001. At the start of the year 2000, almost four out of ten adults (38%) believed there are absolute moral truths that do not change according to circumstances. As reported in the Barna study, this belief in absolute moral truth dropped to just two out of ten adults (22%) shortly after the September 11 attacks. It seems people had increasing doubts about truth, came to the church for help, and then returned to their daily lives.
An Opportunity Lost
Despite the initial uptick in religious involvement, the long-term effects on church attendance and religious commitment were less pronounced. While there was a temporary rise in church attendance, the numbers soon returned to pre-9/11 levels. The immediate increase in attendance did not translate into a sustained commitment to religious practices or beliefs. Many of the unchurched who attended worship services in the aftermath of 9/11 did not maintain their engagement over the following months.
This pattern suggests that while the attacks temporarily prompted many to seek religious comfort, it did not lead to a lasting revival in religious commitment. The expected long-term increase in religiosity did not materialize, as many people who turned to religion for comfort did not find the experience compelling enough to continue regular religious participation.
A longitudinal study conducted in 2008 revealed the short-lived impact on young adult religiosity and spirituality. According to these findings, no remarkable religious revival occurred among young adults after the events of September 11. While many expected a prolonged uptick in religious beliefs due to the terrorist attacks, it never happened. In fact, in some ways, the opposite followed.
Long-Term Shifts in Religious Beliefs and Views
The events of 9/11 had a complex impact on Americans’ long-term views on moral matters. Contrary to the expectations of many religious leaders, there was a significant decline in the belief in absolute moral truths, with fewer people adhering to the premise of unchanging moral principles. This shift suggests a move towards a more relativistic or situational view of morality, possibly influenced by the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the attacks and their aftermath.
While church attendance patterns did not shift much following September 11, other changes in beliefs did occur. Two years after 9/11, Gallup did a study and found some attitudinal and behavioral changes were sticking more than others. Most evident was the increase in American patriotism, a significant rise in people believing terrorism is a major problem, and lower support for immigration. Two decades later, defending the country from terrorist attacks has been at the top of the public’s policy priorities since 2002. Immigration remains a contentious issue.
Additionally, the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent War on Terror contributed to changes in attitudes towards Muslims and Islam in the United States. Initially, there was a rise in favorable views towards Muslim Americans as the country rallied together in the face of a common enemy. However, over time, this unity faded, and suspicions of Muslims increased.
In a series of Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2014, 2017, and 2019, Americans were asked to rate various religious groups on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represented the most negative perception and 100 the most positive. Across these surveys, Muslims and atheists were consistently rated among the lowest, indicating cooler attitudes towards these groups.
The Role of Religious Institutions Post-9/11
The role of religious institutions in the aftermath of 9/11 was multifaceted. While they provided immediate emotional and spiritual support, many struggled to maintain the engagement of new congregants in the long term. According to Mark Chaves, a sociologist at Duke University, the spike in church attendance was short-lived, and the overall trend in American religiosity continued its gradual decline, which had begun in the 1970s. This decline is characterized by fewer people claiming religious affiliations, attending services regularly, or professing belief in God.
The fleeting nature of the post-9/11 church attendance bump highlights a broader trend in American society: the growing individualization of religious and spiritual beliefs. More people began to identify as “spiritual but not religious,” seeking personal spiritual experiences outside traditional religious institutions. This shift has been particularly pronounced among younger generations, who are less likely to attend church or adhere to organized religion compared to older generations.
The impact of 9/11 on American churches and religious life is a story of initial reaction followed by a return to pre-existing trends. While the attacks prompted a temporary increase in religious activity and a brief sense of national unity, these effects—unfortunately—were not sustained. The lesson for churches today is simple. Even the most dramatic, fear-inducing phenomenon is not enough to sway the public to attend church for a sustained period. We eventually revert to previous patterns and behaviors, as evidenced more recently by the 2020 pandemic. We tend to remember the events and the emotional impact on us at the time, but these events alone are not enough to change behavior in the long run.
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