US full of religious nomads

[Wandered Off]

Maybe we just like a little variety!

The U.S. is a nation of religious drifters, with about half of adults restlessly switching faith affiliation at least once during their lives, a new survey has found.

And the reasons behind all the swapping depend greatly on whether one grows up kneeling at Roman Catholic Mass, praying in a Protestant pew or occupied with nonreligious pursuits, according to a report issued Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
...
About half of those who have become unaffiliated cited a belief that religious people are hypocritical, judgmental or insincere. Large numbers said they think religious organizations focus too much on rules, or that religious leaders are too focused on money and power.

John Green, a University of Akron political scientist and a senior fellow with the Pew Forum, classified most unaffiliated as "dissatisfied consumers." Only 4 percent identify as atheist or agnostic, and one-third say they just haven't found the right religion.

Survey: Americans switch faiths early, often

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Only 4 percent identify as atheist or agnostic, and one-third say they just haven't found the right religion.

So many people wandering around looking for the right answer, and so few figuring out that it's right in front of their face.

 

[Wandered Off]

This strikes me as an outgrowth of our consumerist culture...sort of like shopping for material goods thinking new stuff will make you happy. We're always looking for the next cool thing, and marketers have us believing it's out there and we need it - only then will we be happy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

This strikes me as an outgrowth of our consumerist culture...sort of like shopping for material goods thinking new stuff will make you happy. We're always looking for the next cool thing, and marketers have us believing it's out there and we need it - only then will we be happy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

That seems to have some truth to it.

Another aspect could be that with religion losing it's cultural strangehold over recent decades, people are starting to figure out that religion doesn't have the answers they're looking for.

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

Only 4 percent identify as atheist or agnostic, and one-third say they just haven't found the right religion.

So many people wandering around looking for the right answer, and so few figuring out that it's right in front of their face.

So are you saying that Atheism is the "One True Path"?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

So are you saying that Atheism is the "One True Path"?

Definitely not - I eschew esoteric and mystical semantics in favor of straightforward language.

 

[Darz]

This strikes me as an outgrowth of our consumerist culture...sort of like shopping for material goods thinking new stuff will make you happy. We're always looking for the next cool thing, and marketers have us believing it's out there and we need it - only then will we be happy. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Hehe, the article completely backs up what you are saying:

"If people want to see a truly free market at work, they really should look at the U.S. religious marketplace," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

John Green, a University of Akron political scientist and a senior fellow with the Pew Forum, classified most unaffiliated as "dissatisfied consumers."

The website where that survey comes from is really interesting by the way.

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

 

[3.14]

people just switch because they can, give them a religion where they need to cut of a piece of there earlobe and you can be sure they won't switch to that one or from that one

 

[Don Penguinoini]

The fashion religion at the moment is Buddhism.