Do you still affiliate with the general religious tradition of your childhood? If so, you are among the majority.
In his new book, 20 Myths About Religion and Politics in America (Fortress Press, 2022), Ryan P. Burge includes the myth that the growth of the nones (those with no religious affiliation) is largely from people leaving the church (Myth #15, p.165-174). Using widely available data, Burge shows that the growth of nones is actually due to generational replacement and high retention rates among those raised as nones from childhood into adulthood.
Even more interestingly, Burge uses GSS data to show how religious retention rates have changed over time by religious group. Every religion has seen a decline from the 1970s to the 2010s
- Evangelical: 76.1% to 69.5% (-6.6%)
- Mainline: 74.0% to 55.6% (-18.4%)
- Black Protestant: 86.4% to 69.4% (17.0%)
- Catholic: 83.9% to 64.0% (-19.9%)
- Other Faith: 82.8% to 72.0% (-10.8%)
In contrast the nones or those without religious affiliation have increased their retention rate over the same time period from 33.5% to 61.1% (+27.6%).
So What?
I was born into and raised in a family that belonged to a Mainline Protestant congregation. I’ve found my religious home in this space, and remain a Mainline Protestant in adulthood. In fact, I am so appreciative of and grounded in this religious world that I’ve served nine congregations affiliated with Mainline Protestant denominations.
Because I am personally invested I am well aware that religious retention is currently lowest among Mainline Protestants (55.6%). In other words, only slightly more than half of all respondents who were raised in the Mainline Protestant tradition still claimed it as their current tradition when surveyed. (I’m also aware just how old this tradition is on average and just how low its fertility rates are.)
What’s your story? I’d welcome hearing if your religious journey has led you to move to something other than your childhood experience or not. And, I’d also enjoy knowing about any outliers — specific congregations, regions, or parachurch ministries that you believe contribute positively to keeping the retention rates up within your religious tradition.