Survey: Americans Mix and Match Religions

[steven johnson]

This survey result comes as a bit of a surprise to me. I like to mix Buddhist, Christian and Taoist traditions but I didn't expect that it was as wide spread as it appears to be.

When it comes to religion, many Americans like the mix-and-match, build-your-own approach.

Large numbers attend services of traditions other than their own and blend Christianity with Eastern and New Age beliefs, a survey finds.

Though the U.S. is an overwhelmingly Christian country, significant minorities say they hold beliefs of the sort found at Buddhist temples or New Age bookstores. Twenty-four percent of those surveyed overall and 22 percent of Christians say they believe in reincarnation, the idea that people will be reborn in this world again and again.

One-third of Americans say they regularly or occasionally attend religious services at more than one place. One-quarter say they sometimes attend services of a faith different from their own.

Survey: Americans Mix and Match Religions

[JonQ]

1. That makes sense

we are a fairly religious nation, but without a strong tradition towards any one interpretation.

[TheMadMonk]

2. The one good thing I will say about religion is that it did/does tend...

...to keep people living in each other's pockets from killing each other. Unfortunately this almost invariably comes at the expense of excusing utterly reprehensible behaviour towards those that can be labeled as different/other.