Guest Post by Pro-life Leader Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Throughout American history, powerful waves of religious renewal known as the Great Awakenings have shaped the nation’s identity and moral direction. These revivals stirred spiritual fervor and often coincided with major social movements, influencing events such as the American Revolution and the Civil War and inspiring reform efforts around slavery, women’s rights, and labor conditions.
The First Great Awakening began in the 1730s during the height of the Enlightenment, a period that emphasized human reason, individualism, and rational inquiry. For many Christians, however, something seemed to be missing. They argued that faith could not be reduced to intellectual conclusions alone. True transformation, they believed, came through the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Their message emphasized personal conversion, moral responsibility, and a renewed focus on biblical authority. The resulting revival movement spread widely and had lasting cultural and political effects.
I believe that today, the United States is experiencing a similar moment—a 21st-century Great Awakening that is reshaping the cultural and political landscape
Signs of renewed interest in faith and spirituality appear in several areas of American life. Bible sales, for example, have risen significantly in recent years. Millions of copies are being sold annually, suggesting that many Americans are searching for deeper meaning and moral guidance. For people who feel overwhelmed by the woke agenda, moral relativism, sustained attacks on the sanctity of life, marriage, family, and the very notion of truth, the rise of anti-Semitism, or the weaponization of government, the Bible represents a source of clarity, purpose, and stability.
Young people appear to be part of this trend. Researchers who study religion and culture report increased church engagement among younger generations, particularly members of Generation Z and Millennials. In many cases, these groups are attending worship services at higher rates than previous generations did at the same stage of life. For some observers, this signals a cultural shift in which younger Americans are rediscovering religious traditions and community life after years of declining participation.
At the same time, the broader cultural environment is changing in ways that could strengthen our cause. President Trump, his administration, and those who voted for him are challenging bias in media, academia, and social media platforms and are winning. DEI is being abandoned or weakened by many businesses and institutions. Legal battles, financial pressures, and changes in leadership have moved academia and media towards more ideological balance. These developments suggest that ideas once labeled “woke” are losing influence and that a wider range of viewpoints is gaining space in public discussion.
Public expressions of faith have also gotten a boost recently. Several recent Supreme Court rulings have reinforced protections for religious freedom, and the Trump administration has reminded public schools that teachers, staff, and students have the right to express their faith. These decisions strengthen the role of religion in American civic life and restore constitutional protections that had been weakened over time.
Executive actions taken by President Trump have also been supportive of religious expression and the pro-life cause. These include the establishment of a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias, the pardoning of pro-life protesters and the weakening of laws that were used against them, and efforts to emphasize free speech in media and educational institutions. Such policies create a more favorable environment for faith-based activism, the soul of the pro-life movement.
International policy has also entered the discussion. The United States has recently withdrawn funding from 66 global organizations, including many that actively promote abortion. Reducing American financial support for such organizations will slow the global spread of pro-abortion initiatives.
The 2024 election was more than a standard political contest; it was a decisive moment in a broader cultural battle between competing moral visions for our country. Our electoral victory has created an opportunity to advance policies that protect religious freedom and promote the sanctity of human life.
This is why I see the current period as a “golden moment” for pro-life activism and a Great Awakening for the nation. Increased religious engagement, legal protections for faith in public life, and supportive political leadership are forces that could reshape American culture for decades to come. Maintaining this momentum through this year’s midterm elections is essential to sustaining these gains.
Prolife Leader Frank Pavone (@frfrankpavone) is the National Director of Priests for Life, the President of the National Pro-life Religious Council, and the Pastoral Director of Rachel’s Vineyard and Silent No More. See www.ProLifeCentral.org.
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