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Online Religious Services Appeal to Many Americans, but Going in Person Remains More Popular
Convenience cited as top reason for watching virtual services
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- Online Religious Services Appeal to Many Americans, but Going in Person Remains More Popular
- One-in-five U.S. adults use apps or websites for scripture reading
- Two-thirds of worshippers are highly satisfied with virtual religious services
- People give higher ratings to sermons, music they hear in person
- Among those who do both, three-quarters prefer going to religious services in person rather than online
- 16% of U.S. adults attend religious services in person but don’t regularly watch online; 10% watch online but don’t attend in person; 17% do both
- About half of those who watch religious services online or on TV generally do so by themselves
- Three-in-ten U.S. adults go online to search for information about religion
- 16% of U.S. adults are heavy users of religious technology
- 17% of U.S. adults have blocked or unfollowed someone online to see less of their religious content
- Members of Black Protestant and evangelical denominations more likely to express satisfaction with virtual worship
- Black adults more likely than others to watch virtual religious services
- One-third of Black adults are ‘heavy users’ of religious apps and websites
- Convenience cited as top reason for watching virtual services
- Chart shows Half of highly religious adults under age 50 are ‘heavy users’ of religious technology
- Other spiritual pursuits and COVID-19 concerns are top reasons people give for going to services in person less often