In the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a new question was introduced to understand Americans’ connections to religions they do not identify with religiously. This question aimed to uncover if individuals feel attached to certain religions due to reasons aside from religious beliefs, such as ethnicity, culture, or family background. The study included Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus to explore these connections.
The survey revealed that 12% of U.S. adults identify as Catholic aside from religion, making it the most common connection among the five religions studied. When combined with the 19% who identify as Catholic religiously, a total of 31% of all U.S. adults feel connected to Catholicism in some way. Additionally, 3% identify as Jewish aside from religion, 3% as Buddhist, 1% as Muslim, and 1% as Hindu.
Interestingly, many individuals who identify with a religious tradition aside from religion were either raised in that tradition or have a spouse/partner who practices it. For example, 62% of those who identify as Catholic aside from religion were raised Catholic or have a Catholic spouse/partner. This suggests that familial and cultural ties play a significant role in these connections.
Moreover, some respondents identified with multiple religious traditions aside from religion, indicating a broader affinity for various faiths. On the other hand, a significant percentage of individuals felt connected to a specific religious group despite not being raised in it, having a spouse/partner from that group, or identifying with multiple traditions. This suggests that there are deeper, unmeasurable connections to these religions beyond the scope of the survey.
The study delved into each religious group individually to provide a detailed analysis of Americans who identify with them aside from religion. For instance, it found that 57% of those who identify as Catholic aside from religion were raised in the Catholic faith, and 12% have a Catholic spouse/partner. Similarly, among those who identify as Jewish aside from religion, 11% were raised Jewish, and 5% have a Jewish spouse/partner.
In conclusion, the survey shed light on the complex and multifaceted nature of Americans’ connections to various religions aside from their religious beliefs. It highlighted the importance of cultural, ethnic, and familial ties in shaping individuals’ identities and affiliations with different religious traditions.
