万花筒 2009-03-13&03-14 美国人信仰丧失？

They say people turn to faith in tough times, understandable, but tonight we have the results of a major new survey on religion in America. When it comes to the fastest growing tradition in this country, the numbers here might surprise you. NBC's Anne Thompson has our report.

 

"In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."

 

Freedom of religion, a bedrock principle of the American way of life, but today a shrinking percentage of Americans identify themselves as members of organized religions. According to the new American Religious Identification survey, Catholics are the largest group, followed by Baptists, but the fastest growing group are Americans who claim no religion at all, up from 8% in 1990 to 15% today.

 

Proportion of no religion has increased rapidly in New England. In fact, Vermont now is the most unchurched, religiously unaffiliated state in the union.

 

Empty pews in churches in the North reflect a migration¹ to sunnier states where some congregations are seeing growth.

 

“Let us pray.”

 

Practicing Catholics at New York St. Patrick's Cathedral are vastly outnumbered by tourists of all faiths, including one of Catholic and Mormon heritage Paddy Tricolow.

 

"I don't practice the Mormon or Catholic. I believe there is someone higher up there, I do my own meditation². That's all."

 

In fact, 70% of the adults surveyed said they do believe in a personal God, but Americans have lost their brand loyalty³ if you will, now picking and choosing how they worship.

 

“First of all, demographics…”

 

Father Thomas Reese of Georgetown University says religion is no longer central to how Americans identify themselves.

 

“Americans at their core are very individualistic and we've become more, started to apply that to our religion now also, whereas we used to, wanna be in a religious congregation and a church because that was part of our identity as a group.”

 

A change acknowledged by president Obama in his inaugural⁴ address:

 

“We are a nation of Christians⁵ and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers.”

 

Increasingly diverse and free to practice, or not, as we see fit.

 

Anne Thompson, NBC News, Washington.

 

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

3 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

4 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。