David Bowden

manhattan said:

"As to the 95% thing, does someone have an actual source confirming or debunking it? I'm kind of curious myself."

Last year's <a href="http://www.gc.cuny.edu/press_information/current_releases/october_2001_aris.htm" target="_blank">American Religious Identification Survey</a> showed a substantial increase in the number of people with no religion: 14.3 million (8%) in 1990 and 29.4 million (14.1%) now.

(Is "non-religious" the same as not believing in God? Maybe some Americans believe in a God who prefers non-religious folk.)

There was, very significantly, a shrinkage in the number of Protestants during the last decade - from 60% of the population in 1990, down to 52%.

Also, Catholics increased numerically but due to population growth in general, the percentage of Americans who are Catholics actually decreased.

Hope this helps.

-Wanderer

(Edited for no apparent reason.)

[ February 23, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]

[ February 23, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>