Remember when Newt Gingrich was running for president? He took some heat for being unfaithful to his religious denominations (you thought I was going to say wives, didn't you?). He was raised a Lutheran, then became a Southern Baptist and now he's a Roman Catholic.
Changing religions, though, isn't all that uncommon.
According to the U.S. Religion Landscape Survey 28 percent of American adults have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion — or no religion at all.
The study reads, "If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, 44 percent of adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether."
We asked our panelists about it.
Have you changed religions? Why or why not?
Ann Floch | Jun 28, 2012 | 10:23pm
I was Catholic, a School Sister of Notre Dame for 18 years, and left the order in 1981. In 1995 I was too ill to work anymore and had time to read. I have a degree in theology/sociology, and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. I began to read the books not put in the Bible and was deeply enraged as I continuted to read many aspects of the early Christians, and information about Jesus from his time in Tibet. At that point I left the Catholic Church and began Protestant shopping.
I have been a teacher, spritual director, given many retreats, written two books, and I continue to search for a faith community that understands what “sacred” means. I find many wonderful Protestant religions that are open and affirming to many of the new ideas, but not supportive, and truly understand fellowship on a deep level. The sense of the “sacred” that I experienced in the Catholic faith is missing. I want it all. I want what Jesus gave us. I want his life lived out in today’s world.
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