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Pew Survey: Most Americans Have Switched Religious Affiliations at Least Once

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Regarding John who said those people who left the church were not paying attention. I was paying attention but left at age 20 because my mother did not go to mass with my brother and I because she was divorced. I never really felt like I belonged, but Jesus brought me back 15 years ago and I will never leave again. I didn't know about the Hound of Heaven when I came back but that definitely referred to me, Jesus was calling me back. I also attribute my coming back to someone praying for me or maybe more than one person, and all the emotional suffering I went through in my life. But I was paying attention when I was a child because I remembered the Eucharist and the real presence. That is what distinguishes the Catholic church from all others.

Patricia of MO 10:05PM May 04, 2009

Pews are much more chosen over chairs.
1--our church bought chairs for a multi-purpose building,the young men in over 4 years have not moved the chairs once to play basket ball.they said to move and stack 350 chairs and then put them back and line them up is a joke....
2--move chairs for 2 hours and play basket ball for 30 minutes is a nonsense.

don beverly of VA 7:59AM April 29, 2009

I think there is less "religion defining the person" (that you automatically accept the beliefs your born into and more "persons defining religion" (that you find a religion that reflects your beliefs or make your own religion). This accompanied by growing openess and tolerance of other views of spirituality and a willing to investigate those other views, accompanied by marriage outside your faith - whatever that might be - equals many people seeking a change.

Eric Dodd of AR 8:56PM April 28, 2009

These are the marks to look for the True Church Of Jesus wherein which He gave His Authority to 12 sinners to proclaim and preserve the Truth through generations.

Jae of CA 6:57PM April 28, 2009

We did change our church but not for the reasons explzined in this article. The church had changed, became very liberal and we did not accept those changes. Irene, my wife, was a PK,and the changes in the church in which we were reared, Methodist Chruch, were so drastic we quit going to chrurch for years. As our children were growing up it became necessary for them to get proper religous (CHRISTIAN) training. We searched for several years. In our search we were intoduced to the Lutheran Church. It is very conservative by comparison to other churches, We atend the Lutheran church, Lutheran Church Missoui Synod, and have for about 50 years. It more nearly represents what we taught than, not in form but in faith.
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is losing membership as are most main line churchs. Many of the faith driven churchs are Pastor worship and with a pastor demise the church crumbles and their membership has to change their Church or quit going to church, which is also a change.
If we ever become one church it will be Catholic but that will require change in celebacy but it is the Mother Church from which every church was born.
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Ivan B. Linnabary of IL 4:57PM April 28, 2009

I am a revert to the Catholic church. I tried other protestant churches but always thought something was missing. I didn't know what till I came back, the eucharist. Now I will never leave the Catholic church. I read somewhere that more Catholics go back to the church of their youth than other protestant religions who sometimes switch to another church. I really believe that it is because of the real presence in the eucharist. Sadly, protestants donot have that and sometimes spend their whole lives searching for what they don't know.

Patricia of MO 4:25PM April 28, 2009

It is written in the Bible that because of evil’s persuasion people will be very confused and lost in their faith going here and there looking for a church to fulfill their cafeteria religious wish IN THEIR OWN WAY. The TRUTH of GOD/Jesus is not in changing religions that were formed by men's hand. The TRUE church is the Apostolic church FOUNDED BY JESUS HIMSELF. YES, God is permitting all these sad and ignorant changes because he let us to our FREE WILL, BUT the day will come when the TRUE CHURCH of God will be revealed by GOD and those who have left and trashed will have to suffer some penalties. GOD DID NOT AND HAS NOT created thousands of denominational churches with self believes. GOD has crated and COMMANDED - YES... COMMANDED BUT ONLY ONE CHURCH AND THAT IS THE ONE THAT JESUS CHRIST THE GOD SON HAS FOUNDED GIVING TO HIS APOSTLES THE AUTHORITY, YES, THE AUTHORITY TO BUILD ONLY ONE CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. READ THE APOSTLES CREED AND SEE THE PART WHERE IT SAYS, "...I BELIEVE IN ONE HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH..." MORE CLEAR THAN THIS IS NOTHING, NOT EVEN THE AIR BECAUSE WHAT COMES FROM GOD IS THE MOST CLEAREST AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HOLY AND RESPECT THAT. WITH MY LOVE AND RESPECT I SAY. "OH BLIND WORLD!! CAN YOU SEE EVIL?? YOU WILL FIND THE TRUTH AT THE END OF YOUR DEAD, DON’T WAIT TILL THEN!!!!

Nattie of CA 3:42PM April 28, 2009

As a Christian, I seek to implement the teachings of Jesus Christ in my life. That does not mean I am perfect, however, it means I try to see that my actions line up with my words. I will always believe Acts 4:12 - There is no other name under heaven whereby me must be saved, than the name of Jesus. I will also always believe that people have the right to have their own religious beliefs and they do not have to agree with mine.
I sincerely believe the Christian people could accomplish far more in helping "Turn the Tide" for the next generation if we could stay focused on the big picture, and not continuously get side tracked expending so much of our time and energy splitting hairs over issues that are not of utmost importance and become so dogmatic that everyone has to agree with our individual views on every trifling issue or else. Jesus spoke the truth in love and He did deal with the sin issue in people's lives, however, He dealt with it from a motive of love and compassion for the difficulties and circumstances in life that many people find themselves entrapped and ensnared in.

Deborah Solomon of MO 1:18PM April 28, 2009

Dan Gilgoff,
Without any doubt, the consequences of the reformation period continues to multiply its division. In the year, 1955, God the Father appeared to me in a field of winter wheat surrounding a a granite cross. He said to me that UNITY is his greatest concern. In this parable like setting I realized the significance that this message had for all humanity. Twelve years later, the Father gave me a warning message which I have indicated on my website: www.universal-flood.net
Please visit my website for further details. Please click on pictures to enlarge.
Sincerely,
Jack J. Szpytman

Jack J. Szpytman of MI 12:33PM April 28, 2009

"Math Problem
Poll: Most Have Changed Religious Affiliation
44 percent now claim a religious affiliation different from their childhood faith.
44% is most?
Gee, I guess most voters voted for John McCain since he got 45%."
That is why I rarely read US News & World Report anymore. Their journalism is biased and incomplete and, as the above headline illustrates, sloppy.

Dan of IL 12:29PM April 28, 2009