The U.S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, a new survey finds.
The study released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is unusual for it sheer scope, relying on interviews with more than 35,000 adults to document a diverse and dynamic U.S. religious population.
While much of the study confirms earlier findings — mainline Protestant churches are in decline, non-denominational churches are gaining and the ranks of the unaffiliated are growing — it also provides a deeper look behind those trends, and of smaller religious groups.
"The American religious economy is like a marketplace — very dynamic, very competitive," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum. "Everyone is losing, everyone is gaining. There are net winners and losers, but no one can stand still. Those groups that are losing significant numbers have to recoup them to stay vibrant."
The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey estimates the United States is 78 percent Christian and about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation, at 51 percent and slipping.
More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one stream or denomination of Protestantism to another, the number rises to 44 percent.
One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.
"In the past, certain religions had a real holding power, where people from one generation to the next would stay," said Penn State University sociologist Roger Finke, who consulted in the survey planning. "Right now, there is a dropping confidence in organized religion, especially in the traditional religious forms."
Lugo said the 44 percent figure is "a very conservative estimate," and more research is planned to determine the causes.
"It does seem in keeping with the high tolerance among Americans for change," Lugo said. "People move a lot, people change jobs a lot. It's a very fluid society."
The religious demographic benefiting the most from this religious churn is those who claim no religious affiliation. People moving into that category outnumber those moving out of it by a three-to-one margin.
The majority of the unaffiliated — 12 percent of the overall population — describe their religion as "nothing in particular," and about half of those say faith is at least somewhat important to them. Atheists or agnostics account for 4 percent of the total population.
The Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition because of affiliation swapping, the survey found. While nearly one in three Americans were raised Catholic, fewer than one in four say they're Catholic today. That means roughly 10 percent of all Americans are ex-Catholics.
The share of the population that identifies as Catholic, however, has remained fairly stable in recent decades thanks to an influx of immigrant Catholics, mostly from Latin America. Nearly half of all Catholics under 30 are Hispanic, the survey found.
On the Protestant side, changes in affiliation are swelling the ranks of nondenominational churches, while Baptist and Methodist traditions are showing net losses.
Many Americans have vague denominational ties at best. People who call themselves "just a Protestant," in fact, account for nearly 10 percent of all Protestants. Continue >>
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People keep placing the arrival of large, communal churches in the 4th century as though that's some kind of slight. The reason public churches weren't popular beforehand was that Christianity was illegal throughout the Roman Empire. When Constantine legalized Christianity in the Western Empire in 313, it became permissible to have communal houses of worship. They sprung up like wildflowers in Rome. Their remains can be seen in the basements of some of the later churches that were build on top them.
I'm sorry, that was St Ignatius who coined the term "katholic". Ignatius was named Bishop of Antioche by St Peter himself.
St Augustine coined the term "katholic" to describe the Church around 107 AD. This is the same Catholic Church that exists today. The term, "Roman Catholic" was a term of derision and division used by Anglicans in the 16th century who also claimed universality and wanted to be known as a catholic church. They called the Mother Church "Roman" Catholic to differentiate between themselves and the Church they had left when the King of England wasn't granted a divorce by the Catholic Pope. Eventually, The term Roman Catholic stuck and was adopted by the Catholic Church while the attempt by the Anglicans to be called catholic didn't.
Here's a little factoid:
Originally the term "catholic" (lower case "c") defined the early church as "universal." So to be called a catholic Christian was acknowledging your part in the entire body of the church, spanning time and place alike. It wasn't until the institution of the Roman Catholic Church (upper case "C"), over four centuries later, that the term began to refer to catholicism. Given our heritage (and not Roman Catholic), we are all catholic Christians, belonging to the universal church body of Christ. - God Bless
I agree, the whole ideal of all these denominational church just divides the body of Christ. The best way is just to go back to the scriptures. God gave us the Word so that we can read and understand it for ourselves. Why do we need a bunch of people interpreting the Word of God for us, when it is right there for us to interpret ourselves. I guess that's why early Christianity started off with house Churches. But in the 4th Century when these Big Churches developed and got into political power they made house churches illegal. As the matter of fact, Rome tried to make the translation of the bible into a secular language illegal in the 14th Century. Then even during the times of the reformation, Luther and Calvin, discouraged house churches. These were all ways for a group of "elites" to force their interpretations on the rest of us. I say what we need is more non-denomination, more house fellowships, more small groups, and more bible study groups.
:). I love America... Theres always something new and exciting happening in this country, we're always making history. We are in a historical moment folks. What do you think is going to happen?
Very good point Dan, I didn't think of doctrinal differences. Sadly, they do have that which is why I probably diverted from a specific denomination. I guess what I was trying to say is that we should quit writing doctrine and rely on scripture. I'd like us all to do what the bible says rather than relying on traditions or someone else's interpretations.
I understand your sentiments Shuck. There should be greater unity among Christians. However, in the example you cite from First Corinthians, it can be assumed there were no significant doctrinal differences between Paul, Peter and Apollos. There can be some fairly significant doctrinal differences between those calling themselves Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, etc. Knowing the name of the church allows you some insight into their beliefs. Labels shouldn't separate us, but labels help me know what's inside the can.
I guess I'd be categorized as one of the "changes in affiliation" Christians having switched from Baptist to non-denominational. I don't see how this is a bad thing though. We should never call ourselves Baptists or Methodists or any other demonination. We should always be of the Christian denomination.
1 Corinthians 10-13
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
I am one of those 2 out of 3 Jehovah's Witnesses that left the WatchTower Cult, as have all but two members of our 5 JW generation family.
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The following website summarizes nearly 500 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers, including JWs hurt on the job and who refused blood transfusions, etc.
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES
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