The 118th U.S. Congress has more Baptists than any other Protestant denomination, according to a Pew Research analysis.
The analysis showed that among the 534 members of Congress, some 88 percent are Christian. That’s more than the general population of the U.S., where 63 percent say they are Christian, Baptist News Global reports.
Only one member of Congress — Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, identifies as religiously unaffiliated. Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California identifies himself as a humanist, and 20 others (3.7 percent) did not disclose their religious affiliations.
Protestants make up 57 percent of Congress, while Catholics account for 28 percent and Jews account for six percent.
For the first time in eight years, the number of Protestants in Congress today is at its highest.
The new Congress has 148 Catholics, 10 fewer than the 117th Congress.
Nearly three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular.” Some 16 years ago, that number was 16 percent.
Both the Senate and the House have predominantly Christians, with 57 percent making up the House and 56 percent making up the Senate.
The analysis includes Pew Research Center of CQ Roll Call data on the religious affiliations of members of Congress, which comes from questionnaires and phone calls. The CQ questionnaire asks members what religious group, if any, they belong to. The questionnaire does not measure religious beliefs or practices.
Since 2007, the share of Christians in the general population has fallen from 78 percent to 63 percent.
Among other findings:
- Sixty-seven members (12.5 percent) identify as some kind of Baptist
- There are 31 Methodists and 22 Episcopalians. There are 25 Presbyterians.
- Nine are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Eight are Orthodox Christians.
- Thirty-three members (6.2 percent) are Jewish.
- Three members are Muslim. Two are Hindu, and two are Buddhist.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker/Staff
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
