Empathy divides Americans by religion, with white evangelicals standing apart

A new survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reveals a significant divide in American society regarding the concept of empathy, particularly among white evangelical Protestants. According to the annual American Values Survey, 42% of white evangelical Protestants believe that empathy can become dangerous when it leads people away from a society guided by God's truth. This sentiment is unique among major religious groups, with at least 66% of other groups endorsing empathy as a foundational moral value.

The survey highlights a 30-point partisan gap, with 84% of Democrats agreeing with the foundational-value statement compared to 54% of Republicans. Independents fall in the middle at 70%. White evangelicals also stand out in the context of Christian nationalism, a measure tracked by PRRI. Among Christian nationalism adherents, only 38% agreed that empathy is foundational, while 94% of those who reject this notion did so.

Six in ten Christian nationalism adherents agreed that empathy can become dangerous, compared to just 6% of those who reject it.

PRRI's President and Founder, Robert P. Jones, expressed concern over the growing "empathy gap" that separates Republicans and white evangelicals from the majority of Americans. Jones emphasized that the findings raise questions about the moral foundations necessary for a diverse democracy to function effectively. The survey, conducted from August 20 to September 7, 2026, among 5,200 adults in the Ipsos KnowledgePanel and additional respondents through opt-in panels, had a margin of error of ±1.6 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.