What are some of the main reasons that people are attracted to the Protestant faith?

[PRmerger]

Yes. The World Christian Encyclopedia and its related publication, World Christian Trends, are the likely sources for these figures. And the increase to in the 30K+ range since 1982 tracks in the updates to these publications. The total figures are derived from an idiosyncratic method they use to define a denomination. In their words, a denomination is defined for their purposes as “Any agency consisting of a number of congregations or churches voluntarily aligning themselves with it. As a statistical unit in this survey, a ‘denomination’ always refers to one single country. Thus the Roman Catholic Church, although a single organization, is described here as consisting of 236 denominations in the world’s 238 countries.”

None of which is to say that there are not a whole lot of denominations out there. But it does say that few folks who use the figures know where they came from or how they were derived.

GKC

Again, I will consider using any other number, other than “tens of thousands” if someone will give me the correct number of Christian denominations, and the source for this statistic.

 

[GKC]

Again, I will consider using any other number, other than “tens of thousands” if someone will give me the correct number of Christian denominations, and the source for this statistic.

I have no idea. And the “source” that lies behind the usual figures cited isn’t the answer, either.

Pick a number, of your own, without reference to internet references to 20-25-30-35-40 thousands. That’s been a chaining reference to the figures in the sources I gave, for 35 years.

Your figure is as likely to be correct, as anything I know of.

GKC

 

[PRmerger]

I have no idea. And the “source” that lies behind the usual figures cited isn’t the answer, either.

Pick a number, of your own, without reference to internet references to 20-25-30-35-40 thousands. That’s been a chaining reference to the figures in the sources I gave, for 35 years.

Your figure is as likely to be correct, as anything I know of.

GKC

That’s what I’m sayin’.

 

[GKC]

That’s what I’m sayin’.

Or so would mine, if I had one. But we would be forced to admit that we aren’t basing it on anything documented.

GKC

 

[PRmerger]

Thanks for sharing your faith journey, Jericho. I’m shocked though no one has questioned your catechism instruction or understanding or requested you write paragraphs explaining RCC teaching.

I happen to be participating in another thread on the Philosophy forum, and it was quite interesting to me to read this quote from another poster (bold mine)

Point well taken.

However, **I keep finding a few Catholics who must have been napping during religion class. **So, I try to be precise about the “differences” found in Catholicism.

To make up – here is something for you which is not a baseball bat.

:flowers:

I post it here simply to make another exhibit for my point: Catholics don’t know their faith.

And, clearly, I am not the only one who believes so.

 

[PRmerger]

Or so would mine, if I had one. But we would be forced to admit that we aren’t basing it on anything documented.

GKC

I try to always make it clear when questioned that it’s an estimate, and that it’s a very conservative estimate, given the fact that there is a church like this on almost every street corner in every city in every state in every country in the world.

 

[GKC]

I try to always make it clear when questioned that it’s an estimate, and that it’s a very conservative estimate, given the fact that there is a church like this on almost every street corner in every city in every state in every country in the world.

http://www.boldts.net/p3/TorSi.4.jpeg

No, that’s not the sort of research that would impress me.

I’d like to see some figures based on research. Meanwhile, I’d give whatever figure you arrived at precisely the same authority I’d give mine. Zilch.

GKC

 

[benhur]

Again, I will consider using any other number, other than “tens of thousands” if someone will give me the correct number of Christian denominations, and the source for this statistic.

The number is discussed from both pro and non pro-catholic sites or from both protestant and catholic viewpoints. The sites are out there. I agree with my college math professor, of lies, lies and statistics. Bottom line is that even ten denominations is enough ammo for CC apologetics and is an understandable stumbling point for some.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I read an article about how many Latinos are leaving the Roman Catholic Church for various Protestant denominations; the numbers are quite high. Any thoughts on these Latin Americans?

 

[SteveVH]

I read an article about how many Latinos are leaving the Roman Catholic Church for various Protestant denominations; the numbers are quite high. Any thoughts on these Latin Americans?

Very poor catechesis.

 

[MartinJordan]

Very poor catechesis.

I can’t say Im perfectly catechised… still learning. But I should say that many look for the “church of nice”. However, they don’t realize they must look for the Church of Truth. Was Jesus always “nice”?

I am the Way, the Truth and the…Nice?

MJ

 

[PRmerger]

Very poor catechesis.

 

[Irishgal49]

I can’t say Im perfectly catechised… still learning. But I should say that many look for the “church of nice”. However, they don’t realize they must look for the Church of Truth. Was Jesus always “nice”?

I am the Way, the Truth and the…Nice?

MJ

When I first read that I was offended but, if I had been told, up front, all that the Catholic Church taught while in RCIA, I would not have become a Catholic. I didn’t even know what the Catechism is so I guess there is a point, although my outcome would have been different.

 

[PRmerger]

No, that’s not the sort of research that would impress me.

I’d like to see some figures based on research. Meanwhile, I’d give whatever figure you arrived at precisely the same authority I’d give mine. Zilch.

GKC

Oh, no, no, no, no, GKC. I fear you are being too dismissive of my estimation. It is not as if I just said, “Hmmm…what number should I use? ‘Tens of thousands’ sounds pretty neat! I’ll go with that.”

It is an estimation, to be sure, but not apprehended without any consideration and basis in logic, science and common sense.

Let’s take an analogy; let’s say I announce, “I take an average of 5000 steps a day!”
And you say, “Well, do you have a pedometer?”
I respond, “No. It’s an estimation”.

And you say, “That lack of research/science does not impress me.”

But I have used reason, logic, science and common sense to come up with my estimation. I can see how many steps I take to walk to my mailbox. I see how many steps I take at work. And while I haven’t counted up the steps I take every day, I can indeed make an estimation which is indeed grounded in reality. Having a pedometer would be more precise, to be sure. But one ought not dismiss my estimation as a number I simply made up.

 

[benhur]

I read an article about how many Latinos are leaving the Roman Catholic Church for various Protestant denominations; the numbers are quite high. Any thoughts on these Latin Americans?

How about a church in my neighborhood that is closing. It went from around 800 parishioners to 250 since the year 2000. It is combining with another catholic church just a mile down the road. I was surprised. I thought numbers were steady, even rising in US.

 

[GKC]

Oh, no, no, no, no, GKC. I fear you are being too dismissive of my estimation. It is not as if I just said, “Hmmm…what number should I use? ‘Tens of thousands’ sounds pretty neat! I’ll go with that.”

It is an estimation, to be sure, but not apprehended without any consideration and basis in logic, science and common sense.

Let’s take an analogy; let’s say I announce, “I take an average of 5000 steps a day!”
And you say, “Well, do you have a pedometer?”
I respond, “No. It’s an estimation”.

And you say, “That lack of research/science does not impress me.”

But I have used reason, logic, science and common sense to come up with my estimation. I can see how many steps I take to walk to my mailbox. I see how many steps I take at work. And while I haven’t counted up the steps I take every day, I can indeed make an estimation which is indeed grounded in reality. Having a pedometer would be more precise, to be sure. But one ought not dismiss my estimation as a number I simply made up.

But you are at least roughly familiar with how many steps you take, as you say. Which is the sum total of what you are estimating. So is anyone, by experience.

You have no analogous experience of every corner of every street, etc. Your estimate of the actual number of anything is affected by the extent to which you have experienced it/observed it, and the extent to which that experience is a representative sample of the totality. Hence, no. Not impressed. Some systematic observation, of a large enough sample to be statistically valid, using some standard definitions of denomination, to permit an extrapolation to the larger population. Otherwise, pick a number.

GKC

 

[Sy_Noe]

I read an article about how many Latinos are leaving the Roman Catholic Church for various Protestant denominations; the numbers are quite high. Any thoughts on these Latin Americans?

There’s an Episcopal church near me with both English and Spanish services but the Spanish service is by far the largest. I can only assume some of these Latin Americans come from RC family backgrounds, They also meet on a weeknight at homes for worship and fellowship. As I understand it the priest gives great homilies relevant to people’s lives today. And she is very welcoming, meeting people wherever they are on their faith walks. For those unable to attend on Sunday due to work or for whatever reason, maybe the weeknight services are appealing. I know they also place utmost emphasis on outreach and standing beside the broken. So maybe some of these reasons attract folks. .

 

[EvangelCatholic]

There’s an Episcopal church near me with both English and Spanish services but the Spanish service is by far the largest. I can only assume some of these Latin Americans come from RC family backgrounds, They also meet on a weeknight at homes for worship and fellowship. As I understand it the priest gives great homilies relevant to people’s lives today. And she is very welcoming, meeting people wherever they are on their faith walks. For those unable to attend on Sunday due to work or for whatever reason, maybe the weeknight services are appealing. I know they also place utmost emphasis on outreach and standing beside the broken. So maybe some of these reasons attract folks. .

Not all Latinos are becoming Protestant; many of leaving the Church entirely or no longer affiliating with a parish. Here’s the start of the article:

Most Hispanics in the United States continue to belong to the Roman Catholic Church. But the Catholic share of the Hispanic population is declining, while rising numbers of Hispanics are Protestant or unaffiliated with any religion. Indeed, nearly one-in-four Hispanic adults (24%) are now former Catholics, according to a major, nationwide survey of more than 5,000 Hispanics by the Pew Research Center. Together, these trends suggest that some religious polarization is taking place in the Hispanic community, with the shrinking majority of Hispanic Catholics holding the middle ground between two growing groups (evangelical Protestants and the unaffiliated) that are at opposite ends of the U.S. religious spectrum
pewforum.org/2014/05/07/the-shifting-religious-identity-of-latinos-in-the-united-states/

Some mention catechism as the reason. In the same magazine with the above article is another article on catechism, specifically Luther’s Small Catechism and how this relatively concise catechism is so important to Lutherans. Of-course the article was in a Lutheran magazine so some CAF readers [specifically one Anglican] will likely discard it as biased and not “universal”]

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Not all Latinos are becoming Protestant; many of leaving the Church entirely or no longer affiliating with a parish. Here’s the start of the article:

Some mention catechism as the reason. In the same magazine with the above article is another article on catechism, specifically Luther’s Small Catechism and how this relatively concise catechism is so important to Lutherans. Of-course the article was in a Lutheran magazine so some CAF readers [specifically one Anglican] will likely discard it as biased and not “universal”]

I’ll say it again. We don’t have good program for College and Young Adults. An area where Protestantism is the most active. I’ve seen progress in this area but it is nowhere where it needs to be.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I’ll say it again. We don’t have good program for College and Young Adults. An area where Protestantism is the most active. I’ve seen progress in this area but it is nowhere where it needs to be.

I think nearly all sizable colleges have Newman Centers, right?