Americans' erratic relationship with religion will be tested again after abortion ruling, experts say
Religion can frame abortion as a black-and-white issue but experts say the pending Supreme Court ruling could bring gray areas to light that cause more Americans to question organized religion's role.
Liz Cooper-Klish said the Bible ultimately led her down the path of becoming an atheist.
After taking a biblical studies certificate through her church to learn more about her faith, Cooper-Klish said she found herself questioning her devotion as she looked at how scripture and churches dealt with societal issues, including poverty and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Once I kind of saw the results of the church and just examined their outsized influence, whether it’s COVID-19 or anything else – just the harm that churches can do in a society, I was like ‘I just don’t think I buy this,’” Cooper-Klish told USA TODAY.
The tumult of the past two years has made more Americans examine their relationship with religion. Now, as the Supreme Court weighs a decision that could lead to overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, some experts think it could lead even more Americans to move away from organized religion.