WASHINGTON (TNND) -- The FBI has confirmed that the recent attack on a Michigan church, which resulted in at least four deaths, was a targeted act of violence. However, the exact motive behind the attack remains unknown. This incident is part of a troubling trend of increasing violence against religious institutions.
Acts of violence against Christians are becoming all too common
According to a report by the Family Research Council, a nonprofit evangelical activist group, acts of violence and hostility against churches in the U.S. have surged dramatically. The report tracked incidents from 2018 to 2024, revealing a rise from 50 incidents in 2018 to 415 in 2024. California experienced the highest number of violent incidents, with 40, followed by Pennsylvania with 29, and Florida and New York with 25 each. This report didn't include the many incidents in 2025, including the shooting at the Catholic Church in Minneapolis that resulted in two children dead and many injured.
Violence against religious groups is skyrocketing
Globally, violence against Christians has also increased, particularly in Africa and Central Asia. Open Doors International reported that more than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution or discrimination, marking a record high with a 15 million increase in just one year. Additionally, the Anti-Defamation League noted a 344% rise in antisemitic incidents over the past five years.
The Family Research Council suggests that the rise in violence against religious institutions is influenced by several factors, including a decline in church attendance and a perception that religion is losing influence in America. Gallup reports that church attendance has dropped from 42% to 30% over the past two decades, and Pew Research Center found that 80% of Americans believe religion is losing its influence.
In response to the growing violence, President Trump issued an executive order in February declaring it U.S. policy to protect religious freedom and combat what it describes as anti-Christian government weaponization. The order criticizes the Biden administration for prosecuting peaceful pro-life protesters, ignoring attacks on churches, and implementing policies the WH said were hostile to Christians.