What empty pews reveal about America
Podcast: Reasonably OptimisticPublished On: Wed Aug 19 2026
Description: America is becoming less religious — but the story is more complicated than empty pews. Host Megan McArdle is joined by political scientist and former pastor Ryan Burge to talk about the shifts taking place in America's churches. Are congregations shrinking or growing? Why are some religious traditions holding on better than others? And what does the rise of the religiously unaffiliated mean for American life?Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
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