You’ll Never Guess What the Fastest Growing Religion in the U.S. Actually Is

The Catholic church is shrinking in the U.S. | VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

Researchers predict Islam will be the fastest growing religion worldwide, however the U.S. may experience a different religious surge, according to Pew Research Center. Christianity dominated the U.S. landscape for years, but is already seeing a sharp decline.

So where are former U.S. Christians worshiping? And which religions are gaining followers and who is losing? You won’t believe how the religious landscape is changing (Hint: No. 5 says it all).

1. Religion numbers are lagging in the U.S.

Although the exodus are those leaving Christianity, Pew Research found slowed growth in other religions including Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu faiths. Christianity dropped 7.8% from 2007 to 2014 and other religions only grew a slothful 1.2% in the U.S.

2. Protestants and Catholics are losing the most

Mainline Protestants lost 3.4% and Catholics lost 3.1% of their members from 2007 to 2014. Why the mass departures? Some Catholics cite negative treatment of the LGBTQ community and Catholic sex abuse scandals, although Pope Francis has an 87.9% rating among Americans.

3. Christianity has become more racially diverse

In 1976 eight in 10 Christian Americans were white, whereas now 43% of Christians and 30% of Protestants are white, The Hill reports. More African Americans identify as Protestant, whereas nearly half of Hispanics say they are Catholic.

4. Mixed religion families are increasing

Interfaith marriages are rising nationwide, which allows families to celebrate a wider variety of cultures and traditions, according to Brandeis Now. Interfaith families are creating their own traditions, which may satisfy the religious background of each parent.

5. More and more Americans are no longer part of organized religion

Americans who do not identify with any organized religion are the fastest growing group, according to Pew Research. This phenomenon is prevalent with a younger demographic, where the individual identifies as being more “spiritual but not religious,” The Huffington Post reports. Approximately one in six Christians left their church with most becoming unaffiliated.

6. Young people are more likely to be unaffiliated

Approximately one in three Americans under age 35 identify as being unaffiliated with an organized religion, according to Time. From 2007 to 2014 those who identify as being unaffiliated grew 6.7%, with most reporting to be “nothing in particular.”

7. While spirituality is on the rise, so is Islamophobia

Unfortunately, anti-Muslim sentiment is increasing in the U.S., The Conversation reports. Approximately 75% of Muslims express concerns about the current president’s views toward Muslims and most report a considerable amount of discrimination, Pew Research found.

by Gina Ragusa