The U.S. is a nation of religious drifters, with about half of adults restlessly switching faith affiliation at least once during their lives, a new survey has found.
And the reasons behind all the swapping depend greatly on whether one grows up kneeling at Roman Catholic Mass, praying in a Protestant pew or occupied with nonreligious pursuits, according to a report issued Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
While Catholics are more likely to leave the church because they stopped believing its teachings, many Protestants are driven to trade one Protestant denomination or affiliation for another because of changed life circumstances, the survey found.
The ranks of those unaffiliated with any religion, meanwhile, are growing not so much because of a lack of religious belief but because of disenchantment with religious leaders and institutions.
The report estimates that between 47 percent and 59 percent of U.S. adults have changed affiliation at least once. Most described just gradually drifting away from their childhood faith.
"This shows a sort of religion a la carte and how pervasive it is," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion. "In some ways, it’s an indictment of organized Christianity. It suggests there’s a big open door for newcomers, but a wide backdoor where people are leaving."
If you notice, it is predominantly Protestants changing faiths. why? Because where there is no truth, there lies no power. And power is a keeper.
Agreed, the only POWER is in the New Birth taught by Jesus and the book of Acts church. John 3 & Acts 2:38.
The only POWER is in Jesus, and what he does for us. The reason many change “denominations” is because they don’t see much difference between them, and thus churches end up operating on “free-market capitalism.” Most people either try to get the most bang for their buck (mega-churches), or they pay a “higher” price (small-sectarian churches) for brand value.
Of course, TRUTH is the most important thing, and our hope is that people go to a church because of TRUTH first, but the truth is, most people don’t see that big of difference between the teaching of Lutherans and liberal Pentecostals. Many Lutherans now speak in tongues and have charismatic style worship.
So, I would be careful in staying they have “No Truth.” Jesus is the TRUTH, and if they preach forgiveness can only be found in Christ, that is the most important truth. It sure changed my life in a baptist church till I received the baptism of Holy Spirit years later in a pentecostal church.