Changes in Religious Affiliation, Understanding Religious Unaffiliation

A new poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public life provides an analysis behind our changes in religious affiliation and the meaning of increased numbers of religiously unaffiliated. Methodologically speaking, this poll surveyed 2800 Americans, an in-depth follow-up to a poll completed last year. Money quote:

Americans change religious affiliation early and often. In total, about half of American adults have changed religious affiliation at least once during their lives. ... The survey documents the fluidity of religious affiliation in the U.S. and describes in detail the patterns and reasons for change.

The reasons people give for changing their religion - or leaving religion altogether - differ widely depending on the origin and destination of the convert. The group that has grown the most in recent years due to religious change is the unaffiliated population. ... Additionally, many people who left a religion to become unaffiliated say they did so in part because they think of religious people as hypocritical or judgmental, because religious organizations focus too much on rules or because religious leaders are too focused on power and money. Far fewer say they became unaffiliated because they believe that modern science proves that religion is just superstition.

The (frequent) movement between religious affiliations does not suprise me, because of our lack of denominational identification and denominational loyalty. But, I was surprised to read some of the analysis behind religious unaffiliation, in light of the increasing numbers nationwide. While this unaffiliation is an indictement of organized religion, those religiously unaffiliated are "surprisingly open" to religion; their current dissatisfaction with religion does not necessarily preclude interest to religiously re-affiliate. So, to me, its not that the unaffiliated are necessarily espousing athiestic principles, its that they are both rebelling against the flaws of organized religion and simultaneously seeking a good spiritual fit.