Americans switching faiths, Dropping out!

(AP) -- 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 survey found the Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition.

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.
Although evangelical churches strive to win new Christian believers from the "unchurched," the survey found most converts to evangelical churches were raised Protestant.
Hindus claimed the highest retention of childhood members, at 84 percent. The group with the worst retention is one of the fastest growing -- Jehovah's Witnesses. Only 37 percent of those raised in the sect known for door-to-door proselytizing said they remain members.
Among other findings involving smaller religious groups, more than half of American Buddhists surveyed were white, and most Buddhists were converts.
More people in the survey pool identified themselves as Buddhist than Muslim, although both populations were small -- less than 1 percent of the total population. By contrast, Jews accounted for 1.7 percent of the overall population.
The self-identified Buddhists -- 0.7 percent of those surveyed -- illustrate a core challenge to estimating religious affiliation: What does affiliation mean?
It's unclear whether people who called themselves Buddhists did so because they practice yoga or meditation, for instance, or claim affiliation with a Buddhist institution.
The report does not project membership figures for religious groups, in part because the survey is not as authoritative as a census and didn't count children, Lugo said. The U.S. Census does not ask questions on religion.

Independent Churches

We all recognise the "Mainstream" Denominations: Roman Catholic, Anglican,Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian,and Baptist. In England, you can add: United Reformed(A amalgamation of Congregational & Presbyterian since 1973). But many people other than those in them realise within each Denomination, there is at least one split, even within the Roman Catholic church!
Through our history, there has been the creation of new Denominations, Sects to some people:Quakers, Mormons,Seventh Day Adventists,etc... But the growing trend throughout the world is the growth of the so-called Non-Denominational churches, with the vast majority of them becoming "Mega Churches". Many question their motive, after all, most of them create an aggressive advertising machine that produces millions each year in revenue. The "Good" is that Orphanages around the world have been built on this money; sadly though it has given the head Pastor, the Executive and mansion. How is the lifestyle of Jesus? But it is not the amount, it is what you do with it! You should look like a Pastor, not a Pimp!!
The Baptists have always laughed at themselves, that is takes a committee to set up a committee and if that committee does not accept the proposal, that split into two and form their own church!!
But within Anglicanism, this is more pronounced. Anglicanism, like Roman Catholicism is very hierarchical; therefore, if you cannot accept authority of the Bishop, you could be in the wrong place! The Anglican Communion over the years have tried to keep everyone together with the hope that all will be reading off the same Hymn sheet. Sadly this is very rarely the case! The Anglican churches throughout the world have proud themselves being a Broad church, following the idea of Elizabeth I's idea of the Via Media (Middle Way), which such exponents as Reverend Richard Hooker adapted in 17th century England, which many of the Liberal Anglicans came out of. The idea was to represent both Catholic Protestant churchmanships, but as Bishops have very rarely done this, many have felt that the departure of Biblical truths and liberalism taking a stand again those who have a different position, forcing them to "go it alone". America is the worst case where authority has gone crazy. These days there are many options other than the official Anglican church with the realms of what are generally called: "Continuing Anglican Churches", many of whom represent the Anglo-Catholic wing, but now the Low church are being part of this as they share the orthodoxy of Anglicanism.
But like all splits & separations, there is a cost; many have no buildings of their own, therefore borrow one or rent one, with the outlay being minimal, but as well as this, they tend not to reflect every location, being a serious problem for those who seek this type of church, but is not available. Some end up in legal battles over property and money, but what are the choices?
But despite this, there is a growth here, especially in England, Scotland, Wales, Canada & the US.
Does this now make Anglicanism the same as Baptist groups that separate from such organisation as: Baptist Union of Great Britain,Baptist Union of Wales and in America: American Baptist Church of the USA?
While most non-liturgical churches tend not to use the "Historical" argument of continuation of the faith they say came from the Church Fathers and the Early Church before that and the Disciples before that ultimately, Christ himself. Others use the basis of Scripture, as central to the truth that now seems to be plagued by apostasy. So is there a future for "The Church", numbers decrease, and priests taken on several parishes or Bishops close churches? Secondly as Seminaries?Theological colleges close due to lack of candidates are we to take notice or change? Are we to go back to the time of the apostles when everyone was Independent?
In the last two centuries, the growth of faith has declined and many continue this way, so are the "Breakaway" what ever the theology the answer or are we to stick with the "Mainstream" regard of the fact that sometimes their theology some departs from from the height of Christian mission and Revival, that produced such greats as:Edwards,Evans,Wesley,Fuller,Carey,Ryland,Ryle,Andrewes?

Llandaff Cathedral

Where I experienced Evensong at its best: 1997-99

St.Denys, Colmworth,Bedfordshire

Where it all began; My family's place of worship: 1796-1992

St.James the Greater, Leicester

Where my "Damascus Road Experience" began: 1972-74

St.Michael's Theological College, Llandaff,Cardiff:1997-99

St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, Burton Latimer,Northamptonshire

Where my "Spiritual Formation" began, under the ministry of Reverend John Simmons:1992-1999

St. Michael's Anglican Church,Aberystwyth,Wales

The church I attended while I was a Theology Student at Aberystwyth, Wales, UK: 1994-97

What do you think?

Religion or faith? Many people describe as people of faith, but are they? According to many Theologians, those who "Believe" only do so out of fear for an alternative. This being the case, why then are people with opposing views so hateful? Why do those who profess to be "Religious" seem to base their practise on the belief that their God will punish those who disagree with them, because what they believe and only what they believe is from God? This also is not limited to the so-called Fundamentalists.Bishop John Spong once wrote: "Religious systems are not primarily about the human search for truth; they are rather about the human search for security".

Evangelicals time to join?

While Traditional Anglicans have over the years tried to come to terms with the fact that many things within the theology of the Anglican Communion as well as many of the Continuing Anglican groups are compromise to faith, leaving a dicision of whether to stay or whether to go. Some choose Rome, others head towards one of the Orthodox churches, which is steadily growing.

But the polar opposite of this, is the questions those who prfer to definethemselves as Evangelicals. But what kind of Evangelical? For some, this gets the response of, "What"?? The term "High Church" or even "Catholic" can include a variety of groups. Evangelicals are the same.On the one hand we have those who sit firm within the Charamatic Evangelical camp, which tend to be a minority with most, yet when congregations profess this,they tend to be large in number.On the otherhand, there are those, whom the term "Low Church" is better description rather than being labeled with others.The third group are the "Liberal or Open Evangelicals", of whom the majority of Evangelical Bishops proudly sit.
Many of those Anglican Evangelicals share similar theology to their non-conformist Brethran.
So what makes them evangelical in the first place? Many become Christians by their upbringing into the faith, through parents, school, friends or a personal decision, but by "Being Born Again". By coming into a personal relationship with Our Lord and saviour. Many were non-Christian prior to this personal experience. They come to this example by declaring their faith to anyone who is willing to listen, many feeling that their calling is to save souls for Christ, sensing that all that do not having this living relationship with Jesus Christ are doomed and heading for Hell! The severity of this seems to depend on what actual flavour of Evangelical you actually are.
Secondly, you accept the Bible as the Word of God, infalliable or at least "Inspired", once again depending on your flavour. The central position of all seems to the centrality of Scripture, Sola Scriptura;therefore the tradition of the church are totally disregarded. Within this criteria goes as far as accepting the belief in "Believer's Baptism".
So why on the whole do they not feel that the Anglican Communion has become Apostate and give them a valid reason for joining one of the other mainline churches that tends to fit more into their theology? It is a question I ask myself often. Many of the Anglican Charamatics perform "Believer's Baptism", so why not join a baptist Church, so going as far as making the requirement for all Adults who choose to be baptised? Many fail never use any form of clerical dress, following the pattern of some Presbyterian and Baptist Churches, so why not join them? Others stand side by side on the actual theology of the Communion is no different from anyone else and fails to acknowledge the belief and practise of anyone conforming to the catholic wing of the church.
Knowing the decision that traditional Anglicans make and finally leave and go to Rome or Antioch, why not the Evangelicals? The Baptists would embrace them, as would the Presbyterians? In a word, Tradition; this is still important to any Trueblue Anglican. While much maybe disregarded and an emphasis put elsewhere and Rome may seem "Too Foreign" for them, Anglicanism still holds something that is dear to all that declare themselves Anglican.

Going to Rome?

As no less than 293 "converts" go through the "Rite of Sending" this past Sunday, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster in London, you have to ask a serious question. This "Rite" is the traditional last lap in the conversion process before being received by Rome. The Rite itself goes back to the Early Church. The majority of those who went through this last week, were former members of the Church of England, and more surprising, was the fact that they were from parishes from the Diocese of London; one the Church of England's strongest Anglo-catholic Dioceses. But like the majority of the Dioceses, London had began to "conform to the World"; therefore putting many Anglican Londoners into a position of compromise, that they felt left only one door open. That being for them to make the decision of leaving the Church of England and follow their conscience and begin the process of going to Rome.
The present Pope, Benedict VI has reached out to former Anglicans more than any other Pope before him, even more so that Pope John Paul The Great. As more and more Immigrants from Former East European countries, such as Poland arrive all over the UK, especially in major cities, such as London; this high number of Converts is very encouraging for The Vatican, as it is estimated that 10-20% of all new converts are Anglican clergymen; therefore holding onto the belief that many of these will renew their vocational vows as Roman Catholic Priests, several of them taking up the unique position of joining the growing army of former Anglican, now married Roman catholic priests. As most priests in England are over-stretched, many conducting anything up to nine masses every sunday, sometimes as the solo priest, Rome are looking at ways on reducing this very heavy workload that they have to cope with.
But have all Traditional Anglicans reached a position of no return? Has the ever growing apostacy taken such a hold, that departure is the only way of being true to the faith?

Archbishop Rowan Williams

The full text of the Archbishop's speech touching on the place of Sharia may be found here. A transcript of his interview with the BBC may be found here.

Anglicanism; an example of Growth

For many years now, we have seen the constant debate of whether Church Attendance, particularly within the Anglican Commuinion is growing or shrinking. It has always been ephasised that well attended Christmas and Easter Services are a sign of continued Anglican support, yet the recognition of many that this is something that cannot be relied upon, no more than the decline of numbers of those in the Pews during the Summer months.
Recently the Church of England produced a report, showing the varience in attendance.While it is always dissapointing, yet not surprising; there is encouragement in the Dioceses that show growth. Of the 44 Dioceses of the Church of England, these are: Bath & Wells, Chester, Gloucester, Guildford, London, Manchester, Portsmouth, St Albans, Sodor & Man, Wakefield, Winchester, Worcester, and York.
While all the Dioceses have churches that reflect all "Churchmanship", the majority are those not showing the extreme;either Anglo-Catholic at one end or Charimatic at the other. Most they express worship in the "Central or Liberal Tradition" in perspective and :"Open Evangelical" on the other.This could be reflective of true English Anglicanism, which eventually, gravitates to the eventual moderate position within Catholic or Protestant Anglicanism.