MEMBERSHIP OF U.S. RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUAL GROUPS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sponsored link.
Largest Religious Groups:
The 16 U.S. faith groups and ethical systems with memberships over 1 million
are:
| Denomination |
Membership in millions |
| Roman Catholic Church |
60.191 |
| Baptist Churches * |
36.613 |
| Non-religious * |
23.0 |
| Methodist Churches |
13.533 |
| Pentecostal Churches * |
10.606 |
| Lutheran Churches |
8.35 |
| Eastern Orthodox Churches |
5.302 |
| Islam |
5.1 (estimates vary greatly) |
| Latter-Day Saints * |
4.766 (Mormon) |
| Judaism |
4.3 |
| Presbyterian Churches |
4.193 |
| Episcopal Church |
2.505 |
| Reformed Churches |
2.039 |
| Churches of Christ |
1.651 |
| Atheists * |
1.5 |
| Neopagans * |
1.0 (estimates vary greatly) |
* Believed to be rapidly increasing in numbers (on a percentage basis)
World status
The 1999 Catholic Almanac reports that there are 61.5 million Catholics in the
U.S.; they comprise 22.7% of the population. This makes the United States the third
largest Roman Catholic country in the world, after Brazil and Mexico. These numbers are
probably inflated, relative to most Protestant and other religious groups because the
Catholic church counts as members everyone who has been baptized into the faith.
Sponsored link:
Books on the diversity of American religions:
These are typically really large books that are somewhat expensive. If you
buy one, we would really appreciate it if you would order it via its the
Amazon.com link below. It costs you the same, but we make a commission on the
sale.
 |
Robert Broderick, "The Catholic Encyclopedia," Thomas Nelson,
(1990). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store.
Discusses beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. |
|
Stephen Galzier, "Encyclopedia of African and African-American
Religions," Routledge (2001). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store |
|
Norman Geisler, "Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics," Baker
Book House, (1999). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store This is
written from a conservative Christian perspective. |
|
M.P. Hall, "The Secret Teachings of All Ages: An encyclopedic Outline
of Masonic, Hermetic, Quabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy,"
Philosophical Res. soc. (1994). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store |
|
Arlene Hirshfelder, et al., "Encyclopedia of Native American
Religions: An Introduction," Facts on File, Inc., (1999). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store |
|
J. Gordon Melton, "Encyclopedia of American Religions: Rel Creeds 3,"
Gale Group, (2002-AUG). Not yet published. Read
reviews or place an order for this book to be shipped later |
|
Larry Murphy, et al., "Encyclopedia of African American Religions,"
Garland Publ., (1993). Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store |
Reference:
-
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1997, World Almanac Books, Mahwah
NJ
Copyright © 1996, 1997, and 1999 to 2002 incl., by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Last updated: 2002-DEC-21
Author: B.A. Robinson
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