The Pew Forum has put out a report called the "US Religious Landscape Survey.", as reported in the Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/02/more_americans_2.html
Of note is this quote from the actual report summary:
Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest retention rate of any religious tradition. Only 37% of all those who say they were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses still identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses."
See the report summary here, with links to the full report:
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
"The religious traditions most heavily comprised of people who have switched affiliation include the unaffiliated, Buddhists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of the “other faiths” category...For instance, more than two-thirds of Jehovah’s Witnesses were raised in some other faith or were not affiliated with any particular religion as a child, as were nearly three-quarters of Buddhists."
Source, p. 27:
http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-chapter-2.pdf
New study shows JWs have the lowest retention rate of US religions
by M.J. 37 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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M.J.
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flipper
MJ- Run that one by me again please ? Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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M.J.
Flipper, I revised the heading in hopes that it's a little more clear.
Basically, JWs have the lowest retention rate of religious traditions surveyed.
Only 37 percent of people who said they were raised as JWs are still JWs. -
AudeSapere
Does any other religion kick their members out with the same regularity that the WTS does?
-Aude.
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daniel-p
Just came across this survey today - awesome publicity. There are just so many apostates out there!!!
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M.J.
Yeah, I suppose some JWs will try and interpret those stats from an elitist point of view.
Based on some of the things I've heard, however, even that 37% figure sounds a bit high.
I haven't gone through the whole report yet. There might be some other interesting nuggets of info in it. -
daniel-p
This is a gold mine of information.
1) JWs are tied for second place for a majority of females in the faith. 60% are female!! (first place are Hindus with 61%)
2) 42% make less than $30,000. This is the second HIGHEST percentage of the poorest cohort of all faiths!
3) JWs have the LOWEST percentage of college graduates and post-graduates of any faith surveyed! (no suprise there).
Go here for a handy navigation web page:
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Guest39
However, despite the fact that only 37% stayed Witnesses, overall there is an 1% increase between those who said they were Witnesses as a youth, and those who now say they are Witnesses. Does the 1% increase match the statistic WTBS gave? If so, it's showing a lot of 'new' people.
Interesting side note: 1% increase between raised and current for Witnesses, 1% DEcrease between raised and current for Mormons.
here's another cut and paste URL with report summary and graph
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/us/25cnd-religion.html?hp -
TD
Fascinating, MJ Thanks.
Maybe someday the JW leaders and policy makers will say to themselves,
"You know, religion is more than just doctrine. Doctrine alone is like bricks without mortar. Religion includes family and community and charity and tradition and all those other things we've made fun of other religions for doing. Maybe that's why our retention rate is atrocious...."
--Naaaah.
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daniel-p
We should all try to circulate this to the JWs in our lives. It's great campaign material, since its by an outside source, but also shows the truth about JW demographics that may get people thinking.
The FACTS are that the majority JWs are poor, uneducated, mostly female (whopping 60%), and have no children. I didn't know Jehovah was so specific about who was called to the faith...