DENVER — About 30% of Americans who say they regularly attend a church, synagogue, mosque or temple have done so in the past seven days, according to Gallup. This is 10% lower than in 2012 and about 20% lower than at the end of the 1950s.
Although Americans are worshiping less in person, anecdotal evidence suggests that prayer, or at least spiritual curiosity, is on the rise.
The 123 million people who watched Super Bowl 58 in February saw a commercial for the prayer app Hello. Mark Wahlberg appeared in the spot and asked people to pray with him. The big game also featured several ads for the “He Gets Us” campaign promoting the teachings of Jesus.
Christy Cobb, an assistant professor of Christianity at the University of Denver, said this seems to indicate a renewed interest in spirituality.
“I think so. The last 10 years, five to 10 years, have been a really stressful decade with the pandemic, political division, rising inflation costs and the cost of living. People are feeling anxious and stressed. And I think we’re looking for ways to alleviate that, and I think faith is probably one of them,” Cobb said.
Hallow claims it has been downloaded 14 million times, used for 464 million prayers, and is still in use. Cobb said this seems to indicate not only a desire for something spiritual, but also a convenient way to get there.
“I don’t see an increase in church attendance right now. I think it’s an accessibility issue. If you can download an app on your phone and take it with you during your busy hours, it’ll guide you through meditation and meditation. “If you pray when you’re feeling stressed, it’s much easier to find faith,” Cobb said.
On my way to see Cobb, I came across a group of teenagers handing out flyers for an Easter church service. They said people their age seek a spiritual element in their lives and often use prayer to find it.
“I feel like prayer can bring people together and bring people together,” Connor Hawkins said.
“This is like a broken world we live in, and people are struggling in their own personal ways. And it’s hard to believe that someone actually cares and really sees them.” Just knowing that touches people in ways you never thought possible, added Gracie Henderson, 17.
Something seems to be happening, whether it’s a moment or a movement. Immediately after the Super Bowl, Hallow claims to have reached number one on Apple’s app store.
Cars promoting the humility and humanity of Jesus are sometimes traveling 190 miles per hour. Ty Gibbs is driving the No. 54 He Gets Us in the NASCAR Cup Series this season.
Forbes reports that the “He Gets Us” campaign also plans to run ads at other big cultural moments this year, including the Paris Olympics, the NFL Draft, and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. The campaign’s website received 715,000 views in the 24 hours after the Super Bowl commercial aired, according to the Associated Press.
follow up
What would you like Denver7 to follow up on? Is there a story, topic or issue you’d like us to cover again? Let us know using the contact form below.
