Thanks to Facebook, I saw the graphic that is located at the top of this page.
The research comes from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and it looks at how well religious groups in the United States are performing with retention of members who were born into that faith. The footnote on the graphic says that this information come from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and is from data collected in 2008.
I find this very interesting. Greek Orthodox ranks fourth in over all religious groups in retention of Members with 73% but is the first of all of the Christian denominations. I am not sure if this is just the Greek Orthodox or if it is in fact all orthodox in the US of A. Roman Catholics are listed after Mormons with 68%.
The Protestants ranks in the middle with Episcopalians and their now Transgendered priests and same sex marriage with 45% retention rate. I guess what people are saying is true, folks are leaving Churches that do not hold to the historic faith in large numbers. Another liberal group the Congregationalists rank third from the bottom with 37%.
What would seem to be the fastest growing religious body in the US of A, Atheists ranks at the bottom of the pile with a 30% retention rate. I guess once people hear the Good News they leave!
As the data shows, churches that hold to traditional beliefs and morals; Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Mormon, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran and Pentecostal are retaining 50% or better of their born into the faith members whilst the churches that change their theology based on the latest fad; Presbyterian and Congregational rank near or at the bottom of the list.
We must be doing something right!
of those claiming to still be in their churches,how many are practacing and participating on a weekly basis,or are they just affiliating with what they were born into,but not attending.