In his 1966 book, Religion in Secular Society, British sociologist Bryan Wilson predicted the that “displacement of religious views by secular ones” within industrialized societies, would produce thoroughly secular societies. Yet findings from the 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study conducted by the Pew Research Center reveal both continuity and transformation in spiritual life, at least within the United States. While the decline of Christianity appears to have slowed, survey results underscore the enduring importance of spirituality: 86% of respondents affirm belief in a soul or spirit distinct from the physical body, 83% profess belief in God or a universal spirit, and 70% believe in heaven, hell, or both. These findings suggest that—even amid shifting religious identities—spiritual frameworks continue to shape how Americans make meaning of the world.
Despite this broad spiritual orientation, Americans demonstrate limited knowledge about the world’s religions. A 2019 Pew survey of nearly 11,000 respondents revealed that, on average, adults could correctly answer only half of 32 basic questions about religious traditions. Just 9% answered more than three-quarters correctly, and fewer than 1% achieved a perfect score. These results illustrate a striking gap between Americans’ spiritual interest and their understanding of diverse religious traditions.
This knowledge gap carries serious implications. Misunderstandings or stereotypes about unfamiliar traditions often fuel anti-Muslim bias, antisemitism, and other forms of religious discrimination. In contrast, greater familiarity with the beliefs and practices of others has the potential to strengthen empathy, reduce hostility, and foster a more inclusive civic culture.
As a result, AVDF has prioritized efforts to expand religious literacy as a pathway toward social cohesion and stable democracy. In 2023, for example, AVDF joined with the Pew Charitable Trusts to fund the PBS Foundation in developing a groundbreaking series on world religions for the widely popular YouTube channel Crash Course. This initiative reflects AVDF’s strategy to use accessible and high-quality digital platforms to expand understanding of faith traditions.
The 25-episode series places special emphasis on traditions that rarely receive coverage in English-language media, such as Taoism, Jainism, Shinto, and the Latter-day Saint movement, while also addressing central traditions including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Crash Course has become one of YouTube’s premier educational channels, with more than 16 million subscribers and over 200 million annual views. Hosted by bestselling author and Crash Course co-founder John Green, the World Religions series introduces audiences to fundamental questions and themes. Episodes such as “What Even Is a Religion?” and “How Many Religions Are There?” confront the challenges of defining religion, highlight the limitations of focusing on only the “big five” traditions, and encourage viewers to consider thematic questions such as cosmology, scripture, ritual, and morality.
Importantly, PBS recruited an advisory board of distinguished scholars representing diverse traditions—including African diasporic religions and the major world faiths—to ensure academic rigor and accuracy. Their contributions shaped the curriculum, reviewed scripts, and advised on framing, ensuring that the series reflects contemporary scholarship while remaining accessible to general audiences.
The outcomes of the project have exceeded expectations. To date, the 25 episodes have collectively earned more than 4.4 million views and 475,000 hours of watch time—well above initial targets. Viewer engagement, measured through comments and shares across platforms, reflects both the demand for and responsiveness to accessible, high-quality content on religion.
“We are pleased to report that the Crash Course World Religions series has significantly exceeded its goals. In our judgment, this has been one of the most successful projects AVDF has supported in our Interfaith Leadership and Religious Literacy portfolio,” said John Churchill, AVDF Vice President of Grants and Programs. “By combining rigorous scholarship, creative storytelling, and the wide reach of digital media, the series has helped millions of viewers deepen their understanding of the world’s diverse faith traditions.”
This success demonstrates more than strong audience numbers—it highlights the broader societal value of religious literacy. By making accurate, engaging, and academically informed content freely available to millions, the series equips students, educators, and lifelong learners with tools to better understand both their own traditions and those of others. In a time when misinformation and intolerance threaten civic life, initiatives like this underscore how religious literacy fosters empathy, reduces prejudice, and strengthens the social fabric.
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