Pew Forum: Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths

Posted by Kendall Harmon

The religious beliefs and practices of Americans do not fit neatly into conventional categories. A new poll by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that large numbers of Americans engage in multiple religious practices, mixing elements of diverse traditions. Many say they attend worship services of more than one faith or denomination -- even when they are not traveling or going to special events like weddings and funerals. Many also blend Christianity with Eastern or New Age beliefs such as reincarnation, astrology and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects. And sizeable minorities of all major U.S. religious groups say they have experienced supernatural phenomena, such as being in touch with the dead or with ghosts.

One-third of Americans (35%) say they regularly (9%) or occasionally (26%) attend religious services at more than one place, and most of these (24% of the public overall) indicate that they sometimes attend religious services of a faith different from their own. Aside from when they are traveling and special events like weddings and funerals, three-in-ten Protestants attend services outside their own denomination, and one-fifth of Catholics say they sometimes attend non-Catholic services.

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Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Religion & Culture • * International News & Commentary • America/U.S.A.

3 Comments
Posted December 10, 2009 at 5:42 am [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. AndrewA wrote:

Atteding religious services “at more than one place” or attending a service in a denomination other than your own is hardly “mixing multiple faiths.”  One could very well be getting the same doctrinal content (a Baptist sometimes visiting other Baptist churchs) or very close doctrinal content.  Also, one can be a Baptist attending the occassional Lutheran service because you have friends or family there or you like the music or whatever, but still be firmly Baptist in doctrine.

I my case, I split my time between Anglican, Episcopalian (mostly for the music), Baptist and Orthodox congregations, because I’m trying to decide which denomination I want to end up in the long term, but inspite of this I don’t see myself as mixing multiple faiths but exploring different expressions of the same Christian Faith.

December 10, 8:46 am | [comment link]
2. Frances S Scott wrote:

Amen! Andrew A,
When I was confirmed in the LCMS in 1950, I vowed before God and the congregation to suffer all things, even death, rather than abandon “The Church”.  I understood “The Church” to mean the “whole Christian church on earth” as I had been taught, not LCMS.  The true church exists where ever the gospel is preached in truth and purity and where the sacraments are rightly administered.  I realize that different denominations may interpret that last differently and I am willing to let that be their problem…non of us is ALWAYS right.  For this reason, I’ve been able always to find a church home in whatever part of the country I’ve found myself in residence. 
Frances Scott

December 10, 11:02 am | [comment link]
3. upnorfjoel wrote:

“...multiple practices…”
“...mixing faiths…”
I’m Episcopal.  What’s new about that?

December 10, 3:11 pm | [comment link]
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