Religion Might Not Be Worth $1.2 Trillion

So, does religious activity really account for 7% of the U.S. GDP? Perhaps. It depends on how you define religion. By any reasonable measure, the Grims’ $1.16 trillion estimate is high, though elements of their research do highlight the sheer amount of cash that flows through faith-oriented organizations—much of it difficult to track.

In their tallies, Grim and Grim actually come up with three different estimates for the impact on religion on the American economy.