Organized religion sees numbers fall [View All]

Christians in America: Organized religion sees numbers fall fewer in pews
Published: Saturday, August 14, 2010, 2:00 PM Updated: Saturday, August 14, 2010, 2:12 PM
By WILLIAM LOBDELL

Novelist Anne Rice's surprise post on Facebook -- she announced in late July that she had quit Christianity "in the name of Christ" because she'd seen too much hypocrisy -- brought cheers and smug smiles from critics of institutional faith, and criticism and soul-searching among believers.

But there's something more at play here than one of America's most famous Catholics -- Rice re-embraced the faith of her youth in 1998 and published a memoir two years ago, "Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession" -- walking away from the church.

Rice is merely one of millions of Americans who have opted out of organized religion in recent years, making the unaffiliated category of faith the fastest-growing "religion" in America, according to a 2008 study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

The Pew report found that one in six American adults was not affiliated with any particular faith. That number jumped to 25 percent for people ages 18 to 29. Moreover, most mainline Protestant denominations have for years experienced a net loss in members, and about 25 percent of cradle Catholics have left their childhood faith, the study showed.
.......

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/08/christians_in_america_organize.html

Have to say, I love that younger generation. They're liberal, pro-gay, and less religious. There is hope!