News

Go Figure

Recent statistics on religious affiliation in the U.S.

1 of 3   American Protestants who are Baptists (17% of all American adults).

2 in 5   Evangelical Protestants who are Baptists.

1 in 10   Mainline Protestants who are Baptists.

2 of 3   Black Protestants who are Baptists.

10%   Protestants in the U.S. who are former Catholics.

8%   Roman Catholics in the U.S. who are former Protestants.

28%   American adults who have changed their religious affiliation from that in which they were raised.

44%   Americans who have changed their denominational or religious affiliation from that in which they were raised.

Source: Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

For more on the Pew Forum survey from which these statistics are drawn, see “The Problem with Counting Christians” by Elesha Coffman.

See our earlier Go Figure postings from March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, and earlier issues.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

How to Save the Christian Bookstore

Keeping Pets in Their Place

The Healing Pen

Wiping out HIV

Review

A Musical <em>Lectio Divina</em>

Bookmarks

My Top 5 Books on World Christianity

The CEO Who Takes Greek Exegesis

Dear Disillusioned Generation

A Jesus for Real Men

Children

The Elusive Middle

News

Yes, Nominal Evangelicals Exist

News

Egypt's Identity Impasse

Rescuing Bookstores

Bringing the Bookstore to Church

Locking the Doors for the Last Time

A Multifaceted Gospel

News

Political Eyes Wide Open

An Open-Handed Gospel

A Merciful White Flash

Excerpt

Heaven Is Not Our Home

News

News Briefs: April 01, 2008

News

Quotation Marks

News

Passages

2008 Christianity Today Book Awards

Q&A: Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka

News

Indigenous Indignation

News

Looking Back

News

Hazy Faith-Based Future

News

'My Heart Is in Gaza'

News

Council Clash

News

The Other Baptists

View issue

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Take a Look at Me Now

Presidential campaign updates, the Taliban’s new Code of Laws, and caring for our souls.

News

German Pastor to Pay for Anti-LGBTQ Statements

Years of court cases come to an end with settlement agreement. 

News

Should Christians Across Denominations Be Singing the Same Songs?

Some traditions work to refocus on theological distinctives in their music as worship megahits take over.

News

Rwanda Explains Why It Closed Thousands of Churches. Again.

The East African nation has shuttered 9,800 “prayer houses” because it wants safe buildings and well-trained pastors. Is that too much to ask?

News

Activist Lila Rose Under Fire for Suggesting Trump Hasn’t Earned the Pro-Life Vote

As conservatives see bigger shifts and divides over abortion, Live Action founder says she’ll keep speaking up for stronger policies.

More Christian Colleges Will Close. Can They Finish Well?

The “demographic cliff” will force schools to cut jobs or shut down—but how they do it matters.

Choose This (Labor) Day Whom You Will Serve

Exodus reminds us that our work can be exploitative, idolatrous, or kingdom oriented.

What to Watch for in ‘Rings of Power’ Season 2

The sumptuous Tolkien prequel has returned. Here’s what a few CT writers noticed.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube