The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us -- Ryan P. Burge, Hardcover

Many people take it for granted: Evangelicals are Republican, Democrats aren't religious, and moderate Christians simply don't exist. But it wasn't always this way. Those who grew up evangelical in the 1980s were just as likely to sit next to a Democrat as a Republican at church.

What happened in the decades that followed?

Data scientist Ryan Burge demystifies the polarization of American pews, helping us understand why the religious landscape has changed so dramatically in the last fifty years--and how this divide impacts every aspect of society. Burge argues that many churches embraced conservative politics amid the culture wars, leading moderate and liberal Christians to leave the church in droves.

Yet Burge shows that returning to church may be exactly what America needs. Many Americans still want to practice faith and believe deeply in the principles of religion. Burge reminds us that the average American is a lot more moderate than they are given credit for, and that at their best, churches can unify people from different economic backgrounds and political affiliations.

Blending personal stories with rigorous, up-to-date research, Burge urges us to rebuild faith communities that can reach across the aisle, helping to restore democracy and unite rather than divide us.

Author: Ryan P. Burge
Publisher: Brazos Press
Published: 01/13/2026
Pages: 232
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781587436697

About the Author
Ryan P. Burge (PhD, Southern Illinois University) is professor of practice at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University. He previously taught at Eastern Illinois University. His previous books include The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going and, with Jim Davis and Michael Graham, The Great Dechurching: Who's Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? Burge has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Politico and has appeared on 60 Minutes. He was the pastor of an American Baptist church for more than 17 years and lives in Mount Vernon, Illinois.