How the 1990s Changed Everything for the Church Today

I came of age as a major shift in American religiosity was underway. The church was at an inflection point. My peers and I didn’t notice it because we had no frame of reference, but we were living through it. Ryan Burge was the first to point out that the period from 1991 to 1998 was the “most consequential period of American religious history in the past five decades.” We’re close in age, so I resonated with his analysis. We teamed up and hosted a 90-minute webinar on the 1990s and American religion. This article condenses much of our research into the most salient conclusions. The Inflection Point (1991-1998)  Most church leaders recognize that American religion has changed. We see it in declining attendance, aging congregations, fewer young adults, and the rapid growth of the religiously unaffiliated. But we often misidentify when the change began.  Some point to the cultural Already a member? Log in Unlock premium content! Get access to all Church Answers premium content from o