Nones/non-religious-2nd largest group in the USA?

[jason3477]

That’s what I’ve heard on the news and in other places.

That the Catholic church is the biggest church in the USA.

But nones-are the 2nd biggest group of people in the USA…

And/but why have so many Catholics left/quit praciting the faith??

 

[a_theist91]

I certainly cannot speak for all of them, but as one of them, it is simply the logical inconsistencies which made it impossible for me to continue as a Christian, or Catholic.

 

[tlimon]

That’s what I’ve heard on the news and in other places.

That the Catholic church is the biggest church in the USA.

But nones-are the 2nd biggest group of people in the USA…

And/but why have so many Catholics left/quit praciting the faith??

Do you have any links? The last I heard, the numbers didn’t quite reflect your assertions. I could be wrong. Maybe I haven’t seen the latest numbers.

What is meant by a group? Would they group all protestants together or would they be fragmented. Surely that haven’t grouped all Christians together. What is meant by “none.” Does that mean no religion, no spirituality, atheist, agnostic, atheist and agnostic? For instance, I doubt that Anne Rice would consider herself anything other than a follower of Christ? Perhaps she would consider herself spiritual but not religious. Would Anne Rice say she belongs to no religion and therefore a “none.” Or what about post moderns/emerging church people? Are they likely to call themselves a member of any denomination?

I really think that the media and the pollsters do not know what questions to ask. I think we’re seeing a categorical breakdown, not necessarily a break down of faith.

As for Catholics leaving… well, perhaps we are right sizing. The Pope said he’d rather have a smaller more faithful Church. This could be a good thing in the long run. We want Catholics to be disciples of Christ - not pew stuffers. This is just a phase. Orthodoxy wins, it has for 2000 years. If people leave, then it’s their souls. We need to busy ourselves with proclaiming the faith with fidelity to authentic Catholic teachings and then we will grow back healthy and robust. Sometimes the dead limb on the apple tree needs removing or, perhaps, the limb will remove itself. We have time and truth on our side.

 

[Bible_Student_1]

I do not know about the situation in the USA; but, as a hospital chaplain “Down Under”, I do know that many of the patients whom I visit are merely Nominal in their denomination, and seldom if ever go to church. Of those who have not departed from their church altogether some are “sub-marines” they only surface when they need Pastoral Care, a breath of fresh scriptural air or when they are in need of the sacraments.

In Jesus’ love and service

 

[christosdavid]

tis a sad day…not that catholics are no 1 but that the Protestants must be lying dead on the floor for this to have happened.

downunder - I know that the Catholics have overtaken the Anglicans 33-30% of the population. But are they well formed Catholics?

 

[Bible_Student_1]

I certainly cannot speak for all of them, but as one of them, it is simply the logical inconsistencies which made it impossible for me to continue as a Christian, or Catholic.

Yes many seemingly failures of the Christian religion may have caused you to think so.
But would you like to expound on those ‘logical inconsistencies’ so we know better where you stand?

In Jesus’ love and service.

 

[1voice]

I certainly cannot speak for all of them, but as one of them, it is simply the logical inconsistencies which made it impossible for me to continue as a Christian, or Catholic.

Actually … it is more of a leap of fait to reject the concept of God than it is to embrace it.

Besides…
Human logic does not work in any way where God is concerned. In fact God… in the Bible said that his specific plan is to show human logic to be worthless.

If you are seriously seeking … Ask God to give you clarification … instead of trying to figure it out … or following what appear to be logical arguments.

The fact is that … “There is a God… and he is the rewarder of those that honestly and diligently seek him”.

As long as you thrive on building arguments that is all that you will know. No offense intended … but … if you havent found God … you havent honestly sought after him. It is Gods greatest desire to reveal himself personally to everyone … including you. The Bible may seem illogical … but the fact remains that Jesus was an historic figure that said he was God’s son and who died and came back to life in front of hundreds of witnesses.

 

[Miss_Honeychurc]

The reason for why I left the faith so many years ago (but am now being called back) is really difficult to answer.

My parents married in the 1960s, both brought up in Catholic households, when they were 20. They were divorced in 1972, when I was three years old. I was baptised Catholic and I had a very devout grandmother who did all she could to keep me in the faith, ensuring my first communion, CCD classes, etc.

This was California in the 70s. My mother rejected Catholocism due to the guilt and shame factors and embraced “alternative” religions (ie transindental (sp?)l meditation, buddhism). My father fell away from the church after the divorce, never to return. He is on his 4th marriage.

So I did my best, trying to keep the faith. But with role models like those, I feel like I didn’t really stand a chance. I went to a very modern church with my grandmother (altar in the center, folk mass and the like) and I never liked it. I had attended Latin Mass as a young child and I missed the ceremony and reverance. God was never spoken of in my house.

College. Questioning. Reading up on Egyptian mythology and Osiris and Hercules, both supposedly born of virgins and resurrecting. I believed Christianity to be a sham, so disenchanted.

And there are doctrines I still cannot fully embrace. I am not sure there is a Hell. I believe in ghosts. I believe in birth control, and I really hope my dog goes to heaven . Seriously though, I am split between faith and reason. I feel some of the teachings of the church are based on how powerful the church could make itself and not necessarily the true word of God.

But in the last year, I have been called back. And people on this forum have been praying for me, and it means so much. I cannpt truly call myself a Catholic, because I would be of the cafeteria variety and I would not disrepect the church like that. But deep down, I know I am Catholic. I am a baptised Catholic. I am trying to find my way back. It is hard, but I hear God calling me home.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

But in the last year, I have been called back. And people on this forum have been praying for me, and it means so much. I cannpt truly call myself a Catholic, because I would be of the cafeteria variety and I would not disrepect the church like that. But deep down, I know I am Catholic. I am a baptised Catholic. I am trying to find my way back. It is hard, but I hear God calling me home.

I can appreciate the difficulty. I was allegiant agnostic for many years and a committed materialist. However, once I was able dig deep into myself, I realized that it was right thing to do to become Catholic.

 

[tlimon]

College. Questioning. Reading up on Egyptian mythology and Osiris and Hercules, both supposedly born of virgins and resurrecting. I believed Christianity to be a sham, so disenchanted.

And there are doctrines I still cannot fully embrace. I am not sure there is a Hell. I believe in ghosts. I believe in birth control, and I really hope my dog goes to heaven . Seriously though, I am split between faith and reason.

But in the last year, I have been called back. [D]eep down, I know I am Catholic. I am a baptised Catholic. I am trying to find my way back. It is hard, but I hear God calling me home.

Hey Miss Honeychurc!

I was much like you. I went through “comparative religion” courses during my undergraduate also. I think it’s interesting that colleges do not provide “contrastual religion” courses! One of the first things you learn in law school is that an anlysis that analogizes is incomplete without the process of distinction.

Stick around CAF and get a feel for why the Church teaches the things it does. The more I studied Catholicism, the more sense it made. Issues regarding birth control and hell began to make sense. I am convinced that with good reasoning and faithfulness that you too could come to understand these truths - among others.

Take care and God bless. Let me know if I can be of help to you.

Best,

Thomas Augustine

 

[CMatt25]

I cannpt truly call myself a Catholic, because I would be of the cafeteria variety and I would not disrepect the church like that. But deep down, I know I am Catholic. I am a baptised Catholic.

The Church Herself calls you a Catholic and surely She is not disrespecting Herself. Peace.

 

[Dave_Noonan]

That’s what I’ve heard on the news and in other places.

That the Catholic church is the biggest church in the USA.

But nones-are the 2nd biggest group of people in the USA…

And/but why have so many Catholics left/quit praciting the faith??

In American Grace, Notre Dame researchers Putnam and Campbell place a significant amount of blame on the politicization of Christianity in the US–at both ends of the political spectrum. But other factors are at play as well, including the increasing number of interfaith marriages and growing acceptance of religious pluralism. Church membership (across denominations), after holding steady for decades at around 80+% began to decline sharply around the the year 2000, which may also support their claim.

There are some interesting observations here about membership declines in the Catholic and Southern Baptist Churches: ncccusa.org/news/090130yearbook1.html. (In the year 2009 alone, the Catholic Church lost around 398,000 members and the Baptists around 40,000. Together, they could make a fairly significant city!) The only groups showing significant percentage growth in the US are the Pentecostals, Mormon and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

[seeker57]

I have seen these figures before.

What they are talking about are the “nones,” those who claim no religous affiliation.

They are the fastest growing segment of the population in the U.S.

All of these people are not Catholics. They come from all Christian backgrounds.

I would like to point out that only Christian denominiations are being included in the discussion, including in the National Council of Churches article cited above.

These are people who either were never churched, as the expression goes, or who left the religion of their childhood behind as they grew up or grew older. Many of these people will refer to themselves as spiritual but not religious.

Since the U.S. is often referred to as the most religious nation in the Western World, I would imagine the number of “nones” is even greater in Europe and Oz (that is a slang term for Australia.).

This also begs the question, what about other faiths?

Is a similar exodus being seen in other religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.?

I also wonder what percentage of people are leaving Christianity for other faiths.

I have read posts from a number of people on another web site talking about why they left Christianity for Islam.

I have a friend who was ordaiined a deacon in the Catholic Church and was studying toward his ordination in the priesthood. He not only left the Catholic Church, but Christianity altogether and converted to Judaism.

I also know some people, especially women, who have converted from Christianity to Wicca.

As a UU, I am open to learning about all faiths and faith traditions, but I know this isn’t necessarily the case for those of other belief systems.

Could the dogmatic tendencies of organized Chrisianity be contributing to its decline?

Another question is the impact science has had on religion.

A century ago, many of the scientific realities we now take for granted were unknown and many aspects of life on the planet were still mysteries.

Have scientific advances lessened the need for religion and its explanations of the unknown?

Another good point mentioned earlier is the politicization of religion, Are churches too involved in politics?

Churches have always been involved in secular society in the U.S., but are they now seen as meddlesome and fanatical, regardless which end of the spectrum is being discussed?

I have asked these questions not because I know the answers, but because they have given me pause to think and consider.

Peace,

Seeker

 

[swariffin]

That’s what I’ve heard on the news and in other places.

That the Catholic church is the biggest church in the USA.

But nones-are the 2nd biggest group of people in the USA…

And/but why have so many Catholics left/quit praciting the faith??

Please explain what you mean my “nones”. Is it a name, terminology, or what? Thank you very much. I think it is interesting.

 

[CMatt25]

Some believe God is far greater than anything the human finite mind can fully comprehend. They believe all religions fall short in one way or another as a result of man. And therefore in regard to the Christian faiths they believe none get it all correct. Yet as Seeker pointed out, many are spiritual. And too unlike others, they might not need everything spelled out for them with every “i” dotted and “t” crossed.

 

[Miss_Honeychurc]

The Church Herself calls you a Catholic and surely She is not disrespecting Herself. Peace.

Thank you for this reminder. It is VERY easy to beat myself up all the time over my neglect of the church. I am glad to know She embraces me.

 

[babylonsfalling]

What they are talking about are the “nones,” those who claim no religous affiliation.

I would have said “no religious affiliation” for decades…even when I was in Church twice every week.
The term “no religious affiliation” can and does include practicing Christians who don’t want to be married to a particular denomination or church.
It can includes Christians whose minds conjure up a negative image when they hear the word “religion”.
It can also include atheists, agnostics, and non Church going Christians.

Bottom line…the term "no religious affiliation can mean so many different things to different people that it becomes a useless term. Way too many Christians could think of themselves as non religious and therefore say they have no religious affiliation.

 

[StrawberryJam]

My gut feeling is that the ability for people to admit openly they do not believe is becoming easier to do now than it has been in the past.
I agree with another poster that there is easier access to information and more information has become available to us as time goes by, and it’s not surprising that could cause some to question their beliefs more intensely.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

My gut feeling is that the ability for people to admit openly they do not believe is becoming easier to do now than it has been in the past.
I agree with another poster that there is easier access to information and more information has become available to us as time goes by, and it’s not surprising that could cause some to question their beliefs more intensely.

I would agree with this assessment. Personal preferences are easier to actualize without recrimination in today’s society. I would also add there was a mainstream reaction against institutionalized religion that we are still feeling the effects of today.