The moderate American church is disappearing--and it's taking democracy with it.For decades, moderate Christian congregations fostered dialogue and community across political divides. But as the culture wars intensified, churches chose sides, driving away millions of believers.In The Vanishing Church, data scientist Ryan Burge shows how much America's religious landscape has changed over the past fifty years, and why polarization is destroying faith and community and putting democracy at risk."Ryan brings years of research to bear on sketching out the contours of a church broken in half by polarization. The questions he raises about political extremes and the fortunes of faith in America are some of the most critical questions of our time, and the answers he provides, though bracing, offer some room for hope."--Elizabeth Bruenig, staff writer for The Atlantic"Burge recognizes how the dramatic shifts in beliefs and congregations over the last thirty years have spilled over into every part of our culture, including politics, and this book will help those without much religious literacy understand the importance of these often-overlooked trends."--Skye Jethani, cofounder and editor in chief of Holy Post Media"When it comes to forecasting and analyzing demographic trends in American religion, there's no one I trust more than Burge. Even those who don't share all his theological conclusions will find indispensable this book's insights into polarization, pastoral fatigue, civic loss, and what the future of the American church will mean for all of us."--Russell Moore, editor in chief of Christianity Today; author of Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America