A recent survey by the Pew Forum found that many Americans like to mix and match their worship, across denominational lines–and across religious lines. The findings include:
Though the U.S. is an overwhelmingly Christian country, significant minorities say they hold beliefs of the sort found at Buddhist temples or New Age bookstores.
One-third of Americans say they regularly or occasionally attend religious services at more than one place. One-quarter say they sometimes attend services of a faith different from their own.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “religion” as
Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
This definition of religion contradicts what appears to be a common practice of religion in America: the definition implies some sort of loyalty to the power, while the practice implies loyalty is placed elsewhere.
What do you think of the “playlist effect”?
