Religiosity Decline Fuels Illiberal Turn

Religious decline doesn’t just change private belief; it reshapes political psychology so that some religious actors respond by embracing illiberal politics and identity-driven leadership. As faith communities shrink or feel embattled, converts and religious rediscoverers can swing toward authoritarian or anti‑pluralist figures as a cultural defensive reaction. — If true, this reframes parts of voter realignment and explains why cultural-religious shifts can produce outsized political consequences, affecting party strategy and social policy debates.