Pew Religious Survey

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The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a new survey on Monday that shows the religious landscape of America is very diverse and fluid.The report says…
More than one-quarter of American adults (28%) have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion – or no religion at all. If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, 44% of adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether.Those who are unaffiliated with any religion grew more than any other group. One in four of those between the ages of 18-29 say they are not part of a religious group. All major religious groups see turnover, indicating that many are restless. A high percentage of Americans claim belief and even meet with organized religious groups. But the survey shows that people are moving between various Protestant groups. Catholics lose many raised in their faith while they also gain some who convert to Catholicism as adults.

A news reporter on Fox was discussing this report this morning and said she was raised Lutheran but when she moved to her current city she joined an Evangelical Protestant group because of the dynamic sermons given by its minister. Anecdotal to be sure but representative of many people according to this survey.

Americans are highly “spiritual”, that is they profess belief in God and look to a holy tradition for a basis in life. Many say the regularly attend church. But this survey shows there is a also a restlessness among a high percentage of people–moving from church to church in search of something to satisfy a deep need and longing.

The Apostle Paul spoke of those who are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7). He said that people “will not endure sound doctrine…” (2 Timothy 4:3). Religion must satisfy the deepest longings and needs within a person for them to stay with a faith. The truth can do that. But you have to find the truth, live it and stay with it for a lifetime.

True religion is not for the faint of heart. There are many counterfeits on the market. Many of them do not satisfy because they are broken cisterns, not able to hold any water.