By Adelle M. Banks
2008 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) If you’re Buddhist in the United States, you’re most likely a white convert who lives in the American West.
If you’re a Jehovah’s Witness, you’re likely to be a white Southerner, but almost half of your fellow believers are either African-American or Hispanic.
And if you’re a Midwesterner, you’re living in the region that best reflects the religious diversity of America.
A new study of more than 35,000 adult Americans by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life captures the depth and breadth of religious America — 78.4 percent Christian, 4.7 percent members of other faiths and 16.1 percent unaffiliated.
The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released Monday (Feb. 25), estimates the religious makeup of the country’s 225 million adults in groups as large as evangelical Protestants (26.3 percent) and as small as Unitarians (0.3 percent).
The study also paints a picture of people who often move from one faith to another, as well as the religious landscape of various parts of the country. Pew researcher John Green called the Midwest a “microcosm of American religion” and closely matches the overall religious profile of the U.S. population’s largest religious groups:
– Evangelical Protestant: 26 percent
– Mainline Protestant: 22 percent
– Catholic: 24 percent
“In religious terms, the Midwest really … does reflect, of all the regions, the great diversity, at least in terms of affiliation,” said Green, a senior fellow at the Pew Forum and an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron.
Stephen Prothero, who chairs the religion department at Boston University, said that description fits, given the predominantly Catholic Northeast, mostly Baptist South and a Western region known for Buddhists, Hindus and people with no religious affiliation. The Midwest may be known for Lutherans, he said, “but the Lutherans don’t dominate in the Midwest the way that the Catholics do in New England or the Southern Baptists do in the Southeast.”
Other key findings of the study include:
– Of the 16.1 percent of Americans who are not affiliated with any faith, just 4 percent describe themselves as atheist or agnostic. The remaining 12 percent are almost equally divided between the “secular unaffiliated,” who say religion is not important in their lives and the “religious unaffiliated,” who say religion is at least somewhat important.
“Some of those people are between religions,” said Green. “Some of them are just hostile to organized religion. They’re fine with God.”
– Catholics are the religious group with the greatest loss of adherents, with former Catholics making up about 10 percent of the U.S. population. Hindus, on the other hand, are best at retaining their faith; eight in 10 Hindus who were born into the faith remain connected to it.
– More than a quarter of Americans — 28 percent — have left the faith of their childhoods for another — or no faith at all. Including changes from one form of Protestantism to another, 44 percent of Americans have changed their affiliation or dropped their connection to a faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Buddhists are among the faiths with the lowest retention rates of childhood members.
– The nation’s Protestants make up just 51 percent of the U.S. population, meaning that segment of Christianity is close to becoming a religious minority. Young people are helping fuel that trend: While 62 percent of Americans 70 and older are Protestant, only 43 percent of Americans ages 18-29 are.
Barry Kosmin, a sociologist of religion at Trinity College in Connecticut, said he first detected a drop in Protestant identification in the 1990s. “Christian’ has kind of replaced `Protestant’ as a term for most Americans,” he said. “If you ask most students `What is a Protestant?’, they don’t even know the term.”
– Muslims are the most racially diverse faith group, including 37 percent who are white, 24 percent who are black, and 20 percent Asian.
– More than a third of married Americans — 37 percent — are married to someone with a different religious affiliation, including a different Protestant faith. Hindus and Mormons are most likely to be married to someone of the same religion, while majorities of Buddhists and the “unaffiliated” have married someone of a different religion.
– Researchers found that Jews outnumber Muslims, with Jews comprising 1.7 percent of the adult population and Muslims comprising 0.6 percent.
The massive size of the survey enables a closer look at some of the smaller faiths in America, but some other studies, such as the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, have had larger samples.
The Pew survey results are based on more than 35,000 telephone interviews, some of which were done in Spanish, between May and August
The margin of error for distinct religious groups varies widely depending on sample size. For the 9,472 evangelical Protestants surveyed, it was plus or minus 1.5 percentage points, but for the 411 Buddhist respondents, it was plus or minus 6.5 percentage points.
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Beliefnet
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posted February 25, 2008 at 8:34 pm
There are so many heads and most of them have a god or two or three in them. Sometimes they change gods. Fascinating.
They only important things are to avoid gods that drive you to do crazy things and to get along. And of course try to do well by your fellow critters.
posted February 25, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Interesting that the RCC has the greatest loss of adherents, and that the Protestants are close to becoming a minority. Some folks are thinking!
posted February 25, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Interesting how they completely ignore the rate of growth in the pagan/earth based religions. It is rather irritating that they still find the need to ignore us. At least they recognize the Buddhists and Hindus.
posted February 25, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Guess they think we don’t exist, Ruairi!
posted February 25, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Boy are they in for a big surprise someday. Somehow I imagine we are represented in the mystically unaffiliated group. That is if they don’t have the heads in the sand about the religion we follow.
posted February 25, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Ahhh, my pagan brothers/sisters. This is a necessary consequence of a truly grassroots spiritual movement. The worst thing that could happen, IMO, is for pagan/earth-based belief systems to be co-opted by fad and fancy or worse yet, by some self-interested controlling hierarchy.
Most pagan, wiccan and earth-based religions place the responsibility on the practitioner to formulate, question and re-formulate their beliefs. This is a responsibility that many would just as soon not assume. History has shown that it is never a simple process to transition a population from slavery to independence. I would expect that this is never more true when the transition is a spiritual one.
The more slowly concrete cures, the stronger a foundation it provides.
posted February 25, 2008 at 11:14 pm
if i understand these statistics correctly, the RCC has experienced a ~30% reduction in adherrants (10/(24+10)). That is higher than I would have expected. Coupled with the waning demographic support of protestism/catholicism, thisw paints a decidedly bleak picture for those invested in the status quo.
I fear increased fervor on the part of the hardcore evangelical set (i.e. coordinated “wedge” programs, prayer in schools, force fed ID indoctrination, etc.). If ever there was a time for vigilance re. religious freedoms and separation of church and state, it is now.
posted February 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm
On another thread (forgive me, I’m grounded with the flu), many people, including many Hindis I know consider Hinduism to be a form of paganism. Indeed Hinduism would seem to adhere to the tenets of pagan forms. I have never met a Hindi who was not wholly in love with his spirituality. Though I am no expert, it seems to embrace a constant process of learning and growth, with a very rich and diverse mythology and very limited dogma. Many of the misunderstandings with respect to Hinduism (i.e. its relationship to the cast system) stem from sensationalized generalizations drawn from abuses of Hindi scripture and teachings by (guess who) self-promoting groups of unscrupulous men.
posted February 25, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Another study has the RCC growing actually. The JW’s, LDS and Pentecostals are growing as well.
posted February 25, 2008 at 11:46 pm
MFS,
Care to provide a reference? And if your alternative study is based on a global focus rather than the American demographic, please consider in advance that you are comparing apples and oranges.
posted February 26, 2008 at 8:25 am
Feel Better, Roland! Good reading your posts, but I’m sorry you’re grounded with yucky stuff.
posted February 26, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Roland,
This isn’t where I read this article, but it reports about the same study I was talking about. However, here’s one source.
While it’s not growing in huge numbers, the RCC is not dying either.
posted February 26, 2008 at 2:40 pm
MFS,
Thanks for the reference.
The first thing one notices when looking at this study, is that it is produced by the Christian Post. While this by no means indicates that the study is necessarily biased, it does not lend itself to the objectivity of the Pew Forum, which is “a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization, the Forum does not take positions on policy debates.” (See http://pewforum.org/about/).
Secondly, the CP report is based on memberships as reported by the churches themselves. It would be hard to argue that this does not present a significant source of statistical inaccuracy and bias. The Pew report was based on established statistical principles of random sampling and data analysis.
The full Pew Report can be found here: http://religions.pewforum.org/reports. From the perspective of statistical science, it appears to be a fairly well run report. The sample sizes used in the study would certainly allow for some percentage error (more for smaller churches, less for larger churches). Even still, it is important to consider that it is statistically unreasonable based on the sample sizes that the error be more than a few percentage points as indicated in the study.
The short answer is, the report that you site is based on voluntary data that has not been subjected to any of the rigors of statistical analysis. Conversely, the Pew report is based on data collected from random sampling of 35,000 people and subjected to sound statistical analysis by what would appear to be an unbiased observer.
The shorter answer is, unless you can point to flaws in the Pew reports statistical model, the RCC is dying (losing adherents) in America at a rate of roughly 30%.
posted February 26, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Roland, it just all depends on which one you’re more willing to believe. I am afraid there is no study that shows the RCC is growing you will ever believe. You are more than happy to believe that the RCC is dying, thus, you are biased in to believing the report that the RCC is losing members. It is all in the eye of the beholder.
posted February 27, 2008 at 2:03 am
Anonymous poster,
With all due respect, I do not think that is true. It is about understanding statistical models and the data that they represent. Unless one can demonstrate inaccuracies in the way the data was obtained, the way the data was analyzed or the way the data was applied to the hypothesis, the hypothesis becomes what is known as “statistical fact” within the (known) statistical error of the analysis. This has all been presented in the Pew report, which is why I believe the results. It is not a matter of my bias (which certainly exists) nor is it a matter of my fantasy that the Pope admit that the RCC has been nothing more than an exceedingly elaborate ponzi scheme (that admittedly has its finer points) that has been operating for the last 2000 years.
I pointed to several shortcomings of the CP study presented by Mr. MFS that demonstrate that it is NOT a valid statistical analysis, ergo it provides no statistical support for its hypothesis.
Having said all that, I will point out a subtle but important difference in how the hypothesis is being interpreted. The Pew report focuses on “adherrants”….that is the number of US citizens who began as members of one faith but switched to another. The CP report focuses on total numbers of people who are members of the different churches within the US. This figures benefits considerably from the immigrant population, both legal and illegal. The Pew report is fascinating (and to me gratifying) because it is a study of rate of change. And change is what so many of us are hoping for, for ourselves, each other and our planet.
posted February 27, 2008 at 2:06 am
Jehovah’s Witnesses leaders do not allow dissent they kick out (disfellowship) anyone who is not ‘happy’.
Neat trick eh?
posted February 27, 2008 at 5:10 am
Jehovah’s Witnesses have largest turnover of recruits,have one of the highest attrition rates of all denominations.
Reports all over the news wires from TIME Magazine-”"An even more extreme example of what might be called “masked churn” is the relatively tiny Jehovah’s Witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.
That means that two-thirds of the people who told Pew they were raised Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts. Notes Lugo, “No wonder they have to keep on knocking on doors.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim of increased membership is suspect.
These reports are “SELF-REPORTING” stats tallied by the Watchtower society.They wouldn’t cook the books would they?
There actually are now twice as many former Jehovah’s Witnesses as there are active ones with thousands leaving every month.Baptisms at assemblies is often mostly family member children who have grown up JW.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are LOSING members and are on the decline.Japan has lost over 600 congregations.Witnesses are shrinking in number in many Western countries as of the last few years, as the Internet facilitates the spread of information (much of it critical of the Witnesses).
Jehovah’s Witnesses members are cautioned against creating JW-related websites, largely to prevent their members from discovering the history and dirty laundry of this organization on other websites. There are literally hundreds of former members pages in many languages
–
Danny Haszard Jehovah’s Witness X 33 years
http://www.freeminds.org
posted February 27, 2008 at 5:38 am
This report is a treasure trove. The break-down of religious affiliation by level of education is something I always wanted to see, and it confirms what I have always suspected.
You’ll notice how drastically the number of people who identify as Protestant, Catholic, LDS and (especially) JW drop-off as level of education increases. Interestingly, this is much less so for folks listed as “Other Christians”.
Hindis, Buddhists, Jews and “Other Faiths” show the reverse trend, with affiliation increasing with level of education.
The big (and welcome) surprise is that those listed as “Unaffiliated” (agnostic/atheist) showed the same downward trending as did the first set. This will be great the next time I run into someone who suggests that religion and education are incompatible.
See:
posted February 27, 2008 at 6:23 am
Would you Neo-Pagan and ECS types stop complaining! If you check out the chart on page 12 of the ACTUAL report
( http://religions.pewforum.org/reports )
(under the “Other’ category) you’ll see that you’ve been represented
posted February 27, 2008 at 9:49 am
Jehovah’s Witnesses have an enormous turn-over rate, many quitting these days because since 1972 Bodies Of Elders were directed to stop deleting fellow elders who confessed to child molesting provided several years had passed without the sin (crime) being widely known, so pedophile elders have accumulated leading to the kind of crisis exposures recorded at silentlambs.org.
Another reason JWs are quitting is because discovering how many kids and adults bleed to death without transfusions despite 1 Samuel 14:32-35 showing Saul’s men forgiven for having eaten unbled meat to stay alive. In November 2007 Dennis Lindberg bled to death at a Seattle hospital, for example.
ALso note, they had to count inactive JWs last year in order to register growth, so their “growth” statistics are as false as their mispredictions for world ending have been.
posted February 27, 2008 at 10:02 am
I meant to add my email on the preceding note about turn-over among JWs and would like to add here that despite Watchtower heads over JWs withdrawing the Watchtower Society from being a Non Governmental Organization affiliated with the UN even while having their local Elders rail against the UN,they have kept up UN affiliation as shown here as noted on freeminds.org:
“Other NGOS are: “Consistoire National des Temoins de Jehovah”; “Union of the Jehovah’s Witnesses” and “Representation of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society in Pennsylvania”; which are NGOs functioning in Georgia. (Not the USA state but the nation of Georgia) And, lastly: “Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Poland.
“The Watchtower’s political activities as an NGO are not confined to Europe either. In 1999, the Australian government held hearings with invited NGO representatives of numerous religions in order to advance cooperation and human rights. The official record lists the Watchtower’s representatives as Donald MacLean—Director of the Australian branch office—and Vincent Toole, legal counsel of the Watchtower Society. The record of the Official Committee Hansard is available online.”
With such things going on, added to the scandal of pedophile Elders being retained and sheltered among JWs, as well as the deaths of JW children and adults from the anti-blood transfusions misteaching, no wonder the turn-over rate and Watchtowers fudging their “growth” figure for 2007!
posted February 27, 2008 at 7:49 pm
We are called Hindus not Hindis
Hindi is an Indian language.
Maya
posted February 27, 2008 at 8:14 pm
My dear Neo-pagans and ECSers: contrary to some of the comments above, you ARE represented in the ACTUAL study:
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
Just look on the chart on page 12, under “other”!
posted February 27, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Thank you for this clarification. I apologize if I have offended, and I assure you no such offense was intended.
posted February 28, 2008 at 1:03 am
O sure, and where are the Frisbeetarians in all of this mashup?! Ya know where? On the roof as always! So look up and look out, we’re spinnin’ in your direction!
posted February 28, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Mr. MFS is a Ms.
That study from the Christian Post was also posted on Beliefnet, where I saw it a day or two ago and yet, that wasn’t where I first saw it either. It was a study done and the results syndicated around the Internet. I’m not getting defensive or trying to argue the point or stick up for that particular study. I’ve read statements that the RCC is growing in other places (I’ve not booked marked them or checked the validity as I’ve seen stats) I’ve also seen studies that it’s losing members as well.) In this generation and probably many generations yet to come, I believe the RCC church will still be around, just as I believe Islam, Judaism, Atheism and the many other belief systems out there will too.
Studies are done all the time and the results can be skewed just about any way. Look at our political arena in this country. I don’t think studies by PEW, or by Zogby or Gallup should always be taken as gospel… half the time when I get called to participate in studies, I don’t tell the truth.
Ms. MFS.
posted February 29, 2008 at 11:46 am
Even though Seventh-day Adventists are not on here, they are growing rapidly. They baptise 1 million new members each year, this church thanks to God, has the word of God and follows from it. I find they are very dedicated and are bible based.
posted March 2, 2008 at 9:20 am
Roland-the correct term is Hindu-Hindi is a language and it is caste not cast. Casteism is bound up with Hinduism but in India cast has infiltrated Christianity and Islam!!!
Hinduism is stricty not a religion except in its popular forms of worship when it is polytheistic. Hindu philosophy is very deep and there is no reference to God or gods. In popular Hinduism Christ and even Mother Teresa are seen as ‘avatars’ or manifestations of the Divine or Godhead.
If Hinduism is thriving it is because Hindu communities have built temples across N. America and adopted the Sunday school idea for their children.
posted March 2, 2008 at 5:46 pm
connor:
Many churches consider they “have the word of God” and they claim to follow it also.
posted March 4, 2008 at 8:29 am
Jehovahs Witnesses in a nutshell.
INVENTED in 1878 as a spin-off of second Adventism (7th day adventist today)
PRIMARY core doctrine that Jesus came on October 1914 had his second coming and the Watchtower followers at that time were the only ones who were ready so Jesus handed them the keys to the kingdom.
BAIT what made them so attractive was their (false) promise in God Jehovahs name that those who were alive in 1914 would not all die off from old age before Armageddon came and went.
{Now those WW1 veterans are all gone}