Jesus in America

March 2022

Conducted by Ipsos for The Episcopal Church

Jesus in America is a national study released in March 2022 in a partnership between The Episcopal Church and Ipsos. The research found that while the majority of Americans polled believe Jesus was an important spiritual figure and want equality in society, it also showed Christians are not necessarily practicing what Jesus taught, and Americans feel judged when talking about their beliefs.  

The study also found that the global pandemic has negatively impacted participation in organized religion — or religious activity — and more people are finding spiritual fulfillment in nature. In addition, while the church has been a place of community and non-judgment, some Americans feel that churches that discuss racism and slavery are acting with the wrong intentions.

Jesus and His Impact on Society

The majority of Americans (84%) believe Jesus is an important spiritual figure and want equality in society.

Nearly all Christians (88%) say Jesus is an important figure in their life. Evangelicals, at 98%, are significantly higher than other Christian groups.
About two in five Americans say religion makes the country stronger, while non-Christians (other religions, 38%; not religious, 50%) are significantly more likely to say religion divides us.


The Episcopal Church welcomes all as it seeks to follow Jesus Christ into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, each other, and the earth. Embracing a legacy of inclusion, The Episcopal Church encourages the expression of leadership gifts by all peoples of the church. As a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the third largest group of Christians in the world, The Episcopal Church includes 109 dioceses and three mission areas, and it operates in 17 nations or territories with about 1.8 million members.