Numbers of Muslims, Mormons rising sharply: report

[rug]

By Andrew Stern
CHICAGO | Tue May 1, 2012 7:07pm EDT

CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Muslims grew in number over the past decade, outnumbering Jews for the first time in most of the Midwest and part of the South, while most mainline churches lost adherents, according to a census of American religions released on Tuesday.

The number of Muslim adherents rose to 2.6 million in 2010 from 1 million in 2000, fueled by immigration and conversions, said Dale Jones, a researcher who worked on the study by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.

"Christians are the largest group in every state, but some of the things we found interesting was the growth of the Mormons, who reported the largest numerical gain in 26 states," said Jones, who presented the report to a conference in Chicago.

The number of Mormons, whose Utah-based church's formal name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, grew by 45 percent to 6.1 million in 2010, according to the census, which asked 236 religions to count their own adherents. Family members of adherents were generally included in the numbers.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/01/us-usa-religion-census-idUSBRE8401NK20120501

[kwassa]

1. I read a report a couple years ago on Mormon conversions.

They didn't stick. Conversions were often quite temporary.

The high percentage of conversions didn't result in a growth in the church overall.

[rug]

2. That would be interesting to read.

[kwassa]

7. here is a news report on the subject

This whole article is very good.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120131

The LDS church claims 14 million members worldwide -- optimistically including nearly every person baptized. But census data from some foreign countries targeted by clean-cut young missionaries show that the retention rate for their converts is as low as 25 percent. In the U.S., only about half of Mormons are active members of the church, said Washington State University emeritus sociologist Armand Mauss, a leading researcher on Mormons.

Sociologists estimate there are as few as 5 million active members worldwide.

............................................................................................................................

LDS support of Prop 8 became a lightning rod both inside and outside the Church. There were demonstrations in Salt Lake City, which is home to the Mormon tabernacle but was also just named the "the gayest city in America" by the Advocate magazine, crediting its numerous gay-friendly bars, book stores and neighborhoods. In the wake of the Prop 8 battle, Brandie Balken, executive director of gay rights group Equality Utah, was one of five gay advocates who met with three LDS officials to ease tensions.

[rug]

18. Thanks for the link.

[liberalmuse]

4. And if you "defect"...

Like I did, by writing a letter and asking them to remove my name from their roles, they put you on trial. Yes, that's right. They put you on trial and you have to stand before them and tell them why you want out. I was 17 at the time and didn't feel I needed to show up, so I'm sure they're still counting me as a member.

[AC_Mem]

8. I was put on trial by the Mormon church too

They did not agree with my living with my fiance, even though our wedding date was set and the invitations were stamped and ready to mail. They said I needed to get married immediately or be ex-communicated. I went before the "jury" who judged me unworthy and they excommunicated me. Knowing what I know now, they did me a huge favor.

[rug]

19. I didn't know that.

Interesting.

[xfundy]

3. Oh, the religions are reporting the numbers. Thank Dog.

Remember? Those (religious people) used to be thought of as "the good people," the ones who'd never lie, cheat, steal, etc. Well, that old myth's been torn down, with no help from non-theists. So, OF COURSE we can trust their numbers.

As I understand it, lack of belief in a god/gods has risen dramatically, far faster than conversions into a belief system. Reality, even with its liberal bias, is preferable to believing things are so just because someone else, assuming a position of authority, claims he had a vision, etc.

Most of us have always had a live and let live attitude wrt religion; I only got actively involved when they came after me with their unrelenting hatred. Should i have gotten involved sooner, when the went after people not just like me? Absolutely, but I was younger then, and not even sure where I stood on anything. When one person/group is denied equality, or a voice to express their ideas, we all lose.

[DCKit]

6. Given that the religious are infallible (unlike the Federal gubmint)....

is the U.S. population 2, 3 or 4 billion?

[cbayer]

22. Actually the fastest growing group are the "nones"

When asked about religious affiliation, they respond "none", but most of them still describe themselves as spiritual or religious. They have left religious institutions but not religion.

There has also been a significant rise in those that describe themselves as atheist. Whether these are new "converts" or people more willing to openly state it is not clear.

[JDPriestly]

5. I have a question about American Muslims.

In many primarily Muslim countries, Muslims are prohibited from converting to another religion. What is the stance of the Muslim leadership in the US on conversions away from the Muslim religion?

Does anyone know?

[Ron Obvious]

9. Prohibited?

"Prohibited"? Interesting euphemism for the stated penalty for this offence in those countries. From opinion polls I've seen in those countries, a widely supported penalty as well.

[JDPriestly]

11. I think that some countries punish it with a death penalty, but I don't want to

assume that all do. Do you know the answer to my question?

[Ron Obvious]

14. No

No, I confess I don't -- I'm an atheist. But I'm deeply suspicious of any religion that calls itself "Submission" and in which it's apparently considered acceptable to lie to infidels to further its advance.

[laconicsax]

15. Oh, c'mon! Who here hasn't lied to an infidel to further their advance?

[Ron Obvious]

16. Not me!

Bloody infidels!

But I just simultanously changed my post to "to lie to infidels to further its advance..."

[laconicsax]

17. Two can play at that game...

[laconicsax]

13. I'm pretty sure that Muslims in the US are much more liberal towards apostasy than those overseas.

I don't know for sure, but I vaguely remember reading something by an American Muslim leader saying that apostasy is frowned upon, but not forbidden and certainly not a capital offense.

[ButterflyBlood]

21. I know someone who is a Christian and born Muslim

But her family is from Turkey, so they are pretty liberal Muslims, and don't seem to mind. I doubt this would be taken too well amongst more conservative Islamic circles though I'm sure most wouldn't advocate execution for such people.

[Stargleamer]

10. But surprisingly the number of Mormon Muslims is in a standstill n/t

[laconicsax]

12. That raises an interesting question...

If a Muslim is posthumously baptized into the LDS church, are they a Mormon Muslim? Islam generally doesn't allow apostasy, so from a certain point of view a Muslim is always Muslim...

[ButterflyBlood]

20. LDS don't believe all their posthumous "baptisms" make one a member

Just that it gives one the choice to do so in the afterlife. In the event of a living convert though (like that guy running for President of Mali) the convert obviously is not putting any stock in the teachings of Islam anymore and isn't bothered by whatever they think. If they live in a country where apostasy is punishable by death though of course that creates another issue...I know the LDS church is actually reluctant to baptize converts from predominately Islamic countries for that reason and even was with the Malian guy mentioned even though Mali is a democratic country with freedom of religion.

[laconicsax]

23. Well, that answers that. n/t