Many Americans are moving away from congregations, but not necessarily from religion – movies, plays, art and social media fill the gap

Surveys show that more and more Americans belong to no religious congregation, but does that mean they have stopped believing? Researchers find that for many, religious life has simply moved outside the church.

'Emma' — a young Jewish woman — belongs to no synagogue, observes no rituals, yet online she listens to Jewish music, reads relevant books, and attends a retreat that pairs Torah study with yoga. Her religious life has not vanished; it has found a new stage.

Art as the new congregation

Interviews with hundreds of people reveal that film and theatre have become important avenues for religious learning. Jewish-themed Broadway plays and Netflix series serve as entry points to religious culture.

Take 'Joan', unmarried and in her 50s, who finds synagogues unwelcoming to singles, so she seeks belonging through online series and social media groups. For her, cultural experiences are central to Jewish life, not peripheral.

New questions for religion

Nor is this unique to Judaism. Christians study the Bible through podcasts, Muslims join global online learning communities. Researchers say understanding contemporary faith requires looking beyond membership and at how people explore belief in new ways.