Collapsing Denominations

Michael Spencer links to this interactive graph/chart comparing the state of religion in 1990 and 2006.

The visuals display is nothing less than striking in showing the hemorhaging membership of Catholics in the Northeast. Catholic growth can be found in the South, undoubtedly fueled by the unprecedented immigration of Mexicans, which will probably be coming to an end.

For Protestants, the story is even more dismal.

Spencer writes:

Hispanics are the only thing floating in a sinking American Catholicism. Catholicism in the northeast is in rapid decline. Stunning, really.

Protestants are in a free fall. Evangelicals are moving to non-denominational megachurches and away from mainlines and traditional evangelicalism. Non-denominational, highly Charismatic flavored evangelicalism is on the way to domination, and you heard it here first, megachurch evangelicalism is a house of cards. If those in the pews of the megachurches think think grandchildren will be there as adults, I have a bridge I’d like to sell cheap.

While out and out atheists are still a sliver of the population, those calling themselves non-religious are growing rapidly. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet in that category. America remains a nation that says it is over 70% Christian, but Christianity as a percentage of the population is shrinking in every category except for Hispanics.

Baptists are coasting into decline, with growth far behind the total population. Generational horizons- the end of churches because no younger generation exists- are everywhere in the mainlines.

Here is the Touchstone article on the survey.