Sharply shifting religious landscape

[bluebell]

ABC released the results of a poll it did which showed that protestants have significantly declined in the last 15 years, with those claiming no religion having grown.  The group that Mormons are in has gone up from 11% to 14% but it includes other non-traditional Christians such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Greek or Russian Orthodox so it doesn't look like it's possible to tell how Mormons actually did over the last 15 years.

The Poll

The poll also discusses how politics impact religious affiliation.

According to the article, this is how many were polled and how it was done-

The ABC/Post question on religious identity asks, “What, if anything, is your religion?” with follow-up questions on their church or denomination. Christian respondents also are asked, “Would you consider yourself a born-again or evangelical Christian, or not?”

Results correspond with other research. The Public Religion Research Institute found that 24 percent of Americans identified as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular” in 2017, up from 14 percent in 2004. Similarly, in Gallup polls, 38 percent identify as Protestants, down from 49 percent in 2003, and 20 percent have no religious affiliation, up 10 percentage points.

Methodology

This analysis is based on 174,485 interviews from ABC News and ABC News/Washington Post polls conducted by telephone from 2003 to 2017. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt Associates of Rockville, MD, or SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. See methodological details here.

I just thought that some posters might be interested so decided to share.  It seems to follow the general trend that most of us are seeing with a secularization of the U.S.

[Maidservant]

I wonder if they realize that one of the questions they need to ask these days is: "Are you actively seeking enlightenment, awakening, and/or ascension?"

Edited May 11, 2018 by Maidservant

[nuclearfuels]

1 hour ago, bluebell said:

ABC released the results of a poll it did which showed that protestants have significantly declined in the last 15 years, with those claiming no religion having grown.  The group that Mormons are in has gone up from 11% to 14% but it includes other non-traditional Christians such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Greek or Russian Orthodox so it doesn't look like it's possible to tell how Mormons actually did over the last 15 years.

The Poll

The poll also discusses how politics impact religious affiliation.

According to the article, this is how many were polled and how it was done-

The ABC/Post question on religious identity asks, “What, if anything, is your religion?” with follow-up questions on their church or denomination. Christian respondents also are asked, “Would you consider yourself a born-again or evangelical Christian, or not?”

Results correspond with other research. The Public Religion Research Institute found that 24 percent of Americans identified as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular” in 2017, up from 14 percent in 2004. Similarly, in Gallup polls, 38 percent identify as Protestants, down from 49 percent in 2003, and 20 percent have no religious affiliation, up 10 percentage points.

Methodology

This analysis is based on 174,485 interviews from ABC News and ABC News/Washington Post polls conducted by telephone from 2003 to 2017. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt Associates of Rockville, MD, or SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. See methodological details here.

I just thought that some posters might be interested so decided to share.  It seems to follow the general trend that most of us are seeing with a secularization of the U.S.

Yep.

History is cyclical.

Everything the Nephites went through, we too will endure sans apostasy.

[Okrahomer]

2 hours ago, bluebell said:

ABC released the results of a poll it did which showed that protestants have significantly declined in the last 15 years, with those claiming no religion having grown.  The group that Mormons are in has gone up from 11% to 14% but it includes other non-traditional Christians such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Greek or Russian Orthodox so it doesn't look like it's possible to tell how Mormons actually did over the last 15 years.

From the last paragraph of the “No Religion” section:

”Other groups represent much smaller shares of the population. Using the entire 15 years of data, 1.7 percent of Americans are Jews, 1.4 percent Mormons and 0.5 percent Muslims, for example. Jews and Mormons have held essentially steady in size, while Muslims have gone from 0.4 to 0.8 percent of all adults in this period.”

[sunstoned]

3 hours ago, Maidservant said:

I wonder if they realize that one of the questions they need to ask these days is: "Are you actively seeking enlightenment, awakening, and/or ascension?"

I believe those questions can be answered in the affirmative independent of religious belief. 

[Maidservant]

27 minutes ago, sunstoned said:

I believe those questions can be answered in the affirmative independent of religious belief. 

Right exactly.

But if polls think they are getting to the nugget of people's experience by the old questions--as if religious/not religious was the only axis or question--then I think they are missing the boat of what they could really find out.

Meaning--I hope the assumption is not that since there is a lack of religion, the only way to describe what's left is secularism; again--an old way of looking at it that bypasses actual experience.

Meaning--there may be less religion, but there might very well be more GOD.

In my opinion.

[sunstoned]

4 hours ago, Maidservant said:

Right exactly.

But if polls think they are getting to the nugget of people's experience by the old questions--as if religious/not religious was the only axis or question--then I think they are missing the boat of what they could really find out.

Meaning--I hope the assumption is not that since there is a lack of religion, the only way to describe what's left is secularism; again--an old way of looking at it that bypasses actual experience.

Meaning--there may be less religion, but there might very well be more GOD.

In my opinion.

I agree.  

[Amulek]

12 hours ago, bluebell said:

Christian respondents also are asked, “Would you consider yourself a born-again or evangelical Christian, or not?”

I wonder if this follow-up question was asked to Mormon respondents. 

If asked in a poll, I would probably say 'no,' assuming that the person asking the question was trying to determine what flavor of Christianity I happen to identify with. 

However, if a born-again Christian were to ask me if I consider myself to be a born-again Christian, I would probably say 'yes,' assuming that the person asking the question is trying to determine something about my spiritual state of being and/or my relationship with Jesus.

 

 

[The Nehor]

14 hours ago, Maidservant said:

I wonder if they realize that one of the questions they need to ask these days is: "Are you actively seeking enlightenment, awakening, and/or ascension?"

I tried to awaken my kundalini this morning but it got snarled up in the traffic.

[Bernard Gui]

19 hours ago, bluebell said:

ABC released the results of a poll it did which showed that protestants have significantly declined in the last 15 years, with those claiming no religion having grown.  The group that Mormons are in has gone up from 11% to 14% but it includes other non-traditional Christians such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Greek or Russian Orthodox so it doesn't look like it's possible to tell how Mormons actually did over the last 15 years.

The Poll

The poll also discusses how politics impact religious affiliation.

According to the article, this is how many were polled and how it was done-

The ABC/Post question on religious identity asks, “What, if anything, is your religion?” with follow-up questions on their church or denomination. Christian respondents also are asked, “Would you consider yourself a born-again or evangelical Christian, or not?”

Results correspond with other research. The Public Religion Research Institute found that 24 percent of Americans identified as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular” in 2017, up from 14 percent in 2004. Similarly, in Gallup polls, 38 percent identify as Protestants, down from 49 percent in 2003, and 20 percent have no religious affiliation, up 10 percentage points.

Methodology

This analysis is based on 174,485 interviews from ABC News and ABC News/Washington Post polls conducted by telephone from 2003 to 2017. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt Associates of Rockville, MD, or SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. See methodological details here.

I just thought that some posters might be interested so decided to share.  It seems to follow the general trend that most of us are seeing with a secularization of the U.S.

Should we be surprised? It has been prophesied by many prophets from the Creation until now. 

[mfbukowski]

18 hours ago, Maidservant said:

I wonder if they realize that one of the questions they need to ask these days is: "Are you actively seeking enlightenment, awakening, and/or ascension?"

Or "Do you have a purpose for your life?"

[bluebell]

31 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

Should we be surprised? It has been prophesied by many prophets from the Creation until now. 

No, I don't think it's a surprise to anyone.

[california boy]

Maybe the follow up question should have been ‘why did you leave organized religion

[Maidservant]

2 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

Or "Do you have a purpose for your life?"

Good one.  There could be several more helpful additional question rather than lumping people into 'no religion' and 'secular'.

[california boy]

What I found interesting is that only 9% of Mormons identify as democrat.  It is definitely a very conservative republican church

[Avatar4321]

12 minutes ago, california boy said:

Maybe the follow up question should have been ‘why did you leave organized religion

Are they? Or are the older generations who were involved in organized religion dying off and being replaced by a younger generation that has never been involved?

[california boy]

15 minutes ago, Avatar4321 said:

Are they? Or are the older generations who were involved in organized religion dying off and being replaced by a younger generation that has never been involved?

No religion was up in every single category including 50 years and above.(+5%). It is just that the next generation is leaving organized religion at a faster rate (+16%)

Edited May 11, 2018 by california boy

[Jeanne]

23 minutes ago, california boy said:

What I found interesting is that only 9% of Mormons identify as democrat.  It is definitely a very conservative republican church

You would have to live in Utah to fully appreciate  your observation😊

[california boy]

5 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

You would have to live in Utah to fully appreciate  your observation😊

Yeah. That is probably not going to happen.  There is not much in Utah that I would fit in. Except the amazing skiing and some pretty decent white water rafting. 

[clarkgoble]

20 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

”Other groups represent much smaller shares of the population. Using the entire 15 years of data, 1.7 percent of Americans are Jews, 1.4 percent Mormons and 0.5 percent Muslims, for example. Jews and Mormons have held essentially steady in size, while Muslims have gone from 0.4 to 0.8 percent of all adults in this period.”

Note that’s relative to population so we’ve been growing in self identification at slightly less than 1% per year which really isn’t bad at all. Numerous polls have found the same thing over the past 20 years. Although the absolute numbers vary. Gallup usually has us at 2% and Pew around 1.6% with ARIS (probably the best poll on religion) giving 1.4 like ABC.

Edited May 11, 2018 by clarkgoble

[cinepro]

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Should we be surprised? It has been prophesied by many prophets from the Creation until now. 

To be fair, it's been prophesied by many atheists too.

[Duncan]

1 hour ago, california boy said:

What I found interesting is that only 9% of Mormons identify as democrat.  It is definitely a very conservative republican church

in the States

[clarkgoble]

2 hours ago, california boy said:

Yeah. That is probably not going to happen.  There is not much in Utah that I would fit in. Except the amazing skiing and some pretty decent white water rafting. 

Reasonable kayaking. Great hiking both in mountains and desert. Slot canyons. Great mountain biking. Close to Boise for great kayaking/rafting. Close to Vegas. Amazing skiing. Amazing rock climbing. If you like the outdoors there's really nothing quite like Utah and it's central to all the other places you'd like to go. 

I graduated and swore I'd never be back. Less than six months later...

Even for the culture if you hate Mormon culture there's SLC that is mostly non-Mormon and Park City. About the only downside is that the Jazz scene isn't great. Back in the 90's there were tons of good Jazz concerts and regular Jazz clubs. Not anymore for some reason (perhaps the decrease in people who like Jazz). Restaurants I'll admit aren't as great if you're used to NYC, SF or LA. But there's still a fair number of reasonable ones. 

2 hours ago, california boy said:

What I found interesting is that only 9% of Mormons identify as democrat.  It is definitely a very conservative republican church

That's much lower than what Pew put it a few years ago. It's interesting how the number of democrats has been dropping over the last 20 years though.

Edited May 12, 2018 by clarkgoble

[readstoomuch]

The "nones" who do not have an organized religious affiliation is the fastest growing group in America.  Most LDS young people seem to become secular if they leave the Church.  I could see us needing to spend more time talking about the historical details about Christ and the evidence that there is for His life.  Hopefully, that would help cement people to Christ, even if someone takes a break from the Church.  

[clarkgoble]

2 hours ago, readstoomuch said:

The "nones" who do not have an organized religious affiliation is the fastest growing group in America.  Most LDS young people seem to become secular if they leave the Church.  I could see us needing to spend more time talking about the historical details about Christ and the evidence that there is for His life.  Hopefully, that would help cement people to Christ, even if someone takes a break from the Church.  

It depends upon the poll. Many had about half and half. i.e. half went to an other religion and half went to the Nones. Among Millennials about ⅓ left to the Nones according to Pew. It's worth remembering though that this is an aggregate figure so there is "froth." (People identifying as Nones and then switching identification) However it seems undeniable that the move away from religion is generational and each generation does it more - even among Mormons. Whether this trend will end soon or continue until the US is more like Europe is unclear.