More Americans Changing Faiths, Study Finds

[Frodo]

Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds

By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: February 25, 2008

WASHINGTON — More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion, according to a new survey of religious affiliation by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The report, titled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” depicts a highly fluid and diverse national religious life. If shifts among Protestant denominations are included, then it appears that 44 percent of Americans have switched religious affiliations.

For at least a generation, scholars have noted that more Americans are moving among faiths, as denominational loyalty erodes. But the survey, based on interviews with more than 35,000 Americans, offers one of the clearest views yet of that trend, scholars said. The United States Census does not track religious affiliation.

The report shows, for example, that every religion is losing and gaining members, but that the Roman Catholic Church “has experienced the greatest net losses as a result of affiliation changes.” The survey also indicates that the group that had the greatest net gain was the unaffiliated. More than 16 percent of American adults say they are not part of any organized faith, which makes the unaffiliated the country’s fourth largest “religious group.”

Detailing the nature of religious affiliation — who has the numbers, the education, the money — signals who could hold sway over the country’s political and cultural life, said John Green, an author of the report who is a senior fellow on religion and American politics at Pew.

Michael Lindsay, assistant director of the Center on Race, Religion and Urban Life at Rice University, echoed that view. “Religion is the single most important factor that drives American belief attitudes and behaviors,” said Mr. Lindsay, who had read the Pew report. “It is a powerful indicator of where America will end up on politics, culture, family life. If you want to understand America, you have to understand religion in America.”

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

[12th Doctor]

Let the Catholic-bashing begin.

[Alcon]

Let the Catholic-bashing begin.

If the American public is converting away from Catholicism en masse, maybe there's something to it after all

[Jake]

Americans wanting to mix politics and religion is what's happening.

[Keystone Phil]

Yeah, I saw this on the news tonight. Very interesting.

[Хahar 🤔]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

[Beet]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

I was surprised to find out that the numbers in Israel are also pretty low, although they are higher than outside.

[phk]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

8% of US Jews are Orthodox.

I know a few Jews who place themselves as "Conservadox" inbetween Conservative and Orthodox.

But its really just a spectrum (think like a number line from 0 to 10) from Reform-to-Ultra Orthodox, with Reform being 1 and Orthodox being 10 with Conservative around 5 and "Conservadox" around 7.5

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

No, you're confusing Orthodox with Haredi.

[Хahar 🤔]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

No, you're confusing Orthodox with Haredi.

Still, aren;t Orthodox Jews the least in number?

[J. J.]

I converted from Presbyterianism. 

[phk]

Interesting that twice as many Jews are Reform as Orthodox.

I was under the impression that Orthodox Jews were rare. However, when you put Conservative and Orthodox together, it's about equal to Reform.

No, you're confusing Orthodox with Haredi.

Still, aren;t Orthodox Jews the least in number?

No. Orthodox > Ultra-Orthodox.