Gallup started collecting data in 1948 relating to religious trends in the United States. In that year the percentage of Americans stating they are Protestants was 69%, Catholics made up 22%, and no religion was at 2%.
The high point in these studies for Protestants was in 1954 and 1956 when the percentage of Protestants reached 71%. The high point for Catholicism was in the 80's when it reached 28% and 29%. The Jewish populace has hovered pretty consistently between 2% and 4%. Mormonism wasn't really measured until the 80's and remains about 2%.
Skip ahead to 2016's figures. Protestants are down to 37%. Catholics remain at 22%. Jewish is at 3%, Mormonism is at 2%, and non-specific Christian at 10%. No religion is at 18%. So, while the number for Catholics, Jews, and Mormons has remained fairly stabled over the 60+ years, the two major trends is the decline of Protestantism down from 71% to 37%, and the rise of no religion from 2% to 18% It appears given this data that two-thirds of those siphoned off from Protestants go to no religion, and a third go to a non-specific Christian belief.
If you look more generally at the numbers, when you ask: 'How important is religion to your life?', (a question first posted in 1992), the trend shows that 'Not very Important' has risen from 12% to 25%. Since this is 25% of the total, it suggests that the trend from Protestantism to non-specific Christian to Atheism is likely to continue. It seems likely that those that have taken a step away from declaring they are Protestant are most likely to eventually move to some form of Agnosticism/Atheism.
If you ask: "Do you happen to be a member of a church/synagogue", the trends show a pattern. In 1992 70% answered 'Yes', and 29% 'No'. By 2016 these numbers had changed to 55% for 'Yes' and 44% for 'No'.
The high point in these studies for Protestants was in 1954 and 1956 when the percentage of Protestants reached 71%. The high point for Catholicism was in the 80's when it reached 28% and 29%. The Jewish populace has hovered pretty consistently between 2% and 4%. Mormonism wasn't really measured until the 80's and remains about 2%.
Skip ahead to 2016's figures. Protestants are down to 37%. Catholics remain at 22%. Jewish is at 3%, Mormonism is at 2%, and non-specific Christian at 10%. No religion is at 18%. So, while the number for Catholics, Jews, and Mormons has remained fairly stabled over the 60+ years, the two major trends is the decline of Protestantism down from 71% to 37%, and the rise of no religion from 2% to 18% It appears given this data that two-thirds of those siphoned off from Protestants go to no religion, and a third go to a non-specific Christian belief.
If you look more generally at the numbers, when you ask: 'How important is religion to your life?', (a question first posted in 1992), the trend shows that 'Not very Important' has risen from 12% to 25%. Since this is 25% of the total, it suggests that the trend from Protestantism to non-specific Christian to Atheism is likely to continue. It seems likely that those that have taken a step away from declaring they are Protestant are most likely to eventually move to some form of Agnosticism/Atheism.
If you ask: "Do you happen to be a member of a church/synagogue", the trends show a pattern. In 1992 70% answered 'Yes', and 29% 'No'. By 2016 these numbers had changed to 55% for 'Yes' and 44% for 'No'.
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