Jackson Free Press

The New York Times has a story today about a new report surveying how loyal people remain to the church they were raised in:

In the Pew survey 7.3 percent of the adult population said they were unaffiliated with a faith as children. That segment increases to 16.1 percent of the population in adulthood, the survey found. The unaffiliated are largely under 50 and male. "Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13 percent of women," the survey said.

The rise of the unaffiliated does not mean that Americans are becoming less religious, however. Contrary to assumptions that most of the unaffiliated are atheists or agnostics, most described their religion "as nothing in particular." Pew researchers said that later projects would delve more deeply into the beliefs and practices of the unaffiliated and would try to determine if they remain so as they age.

While the unaffiliated have been growing, Protestantism has been declining, the survey found. In the 1970s, Protestants accounted for about two-thirds of the population. The Pew survey found they now make up about 51 percent. Evangelical Christians account for a slim majority of Protestants, and those who leave one evangelical denomination usually move to another, rather than to mainline churches.

Previous Comments

ID

117324

Comment

Evangelical Christians account for a slim majority of Protestants, and those who leave one evangelical denomination usually move to another, rather than to mainline churches. I guess I could call the first two churches I went to evangelical (some wold say "sanctified" or "holy roller"). 20 years at one (childhood) and 10 at another before I found a non-denominational church. The unaffiliated are largely under 50 and male. “Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13 percent of women,” the survey said. All the churches I've been a member of has always had more women than men. I think that's why some women who belong to a church will marry someone who goes to another church or who doesn't go at all because the men are slim pickings where they are.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-25T17:22:10-06:00

ID

117325

Comment

CBS just did a report on the study. They said that 23 million Americans have left the Catholic Church, but most of them have been replaced by Latino immigrants. I wonder how the Catholic Church feels about the immigration debate. They said in the report that a lot of Catholics left because they wanted fewer rules.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-25T17:40:57-06:00

ID

117326

Comment

Despite the fact that I am Christian, I don't affiliate myself with any church. In fact, I don't really go to church anymore and feel comfortable not doing so. This is not to say I will never go to church again, but I have my own way of connecting with God and no church really fits that mode.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-25T18:57:06-06:00

ID

117327

Comment

It is a challenge to find a place of worship that does everything the way you think it should be done, which is probably why so many exist. I think the best approach is to find a place where you are generally satisfied, can get most of your spiritual needs met, and can trust your leader. Then, whatever is lacking can be made up for by a personal, intimate relationship with whom you worship. Finding a place of worship is not something to be taken lightly. Don't just go by what people tell you - go to the services and see for yourself what it's about. Some people will tell you bad things about a place of worship out of spite or anger or tell you good things to deceive you, so you have to be careful. For me, I chose my current church because I think it is not like most churches. They offer what I want spiritually without all the unnecessary traditions and dogma that have nothing to do with salvation. I'm free to be myself, which is a big deal to me. I'm not saying that everyone should go where I go - this is just my personal experience.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-26T07:58:39-06:00

ID

117328

Comment

I think this explains the growth of the non denominational mega churches (Mc Churches?) Ever been to service at Pinecult err Pinelake?

Author

bill_jackson

Date

2008-02-26T20:48:30-06:00